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Committee advances bill expanding residency restrictions for certain registrants after hours of public testimony
Summary
CS for CS for CS for SB 212 passed committee after the sponsor said the bill focuses on public pools and similar venues; witnesses urged that expanded geographic bans would increase homelessness and do little to prevent child abuse. The committee reported the bill favorably.
Senator McLean presented the strike-all amendment to SB 212 focusing the legislation on access to public swimming pools, revising residency restrictions, and adjusting penalties and contact provisions. The sponsor said the change was intended to give law enforcement tools in response to a specific, high-profile incident and clarified exceptions for schools, churches and other activities are preserved.
The bill produced lengthy public comment from families of registrants, nonprofit reentry groups, public-safety officials and survivors’ advocates. Opponents argued the bill would expand residency bans affecting more than 20,000 people and worsen homelessness, while doing little to address where most child sexual offenses occur. Several speakers noted low recidivism statistics and warned of collateral damage to families when registry-based residency bans are broadened.
Sponsor response: Senator McLean said the strike-all narrowed earlier language, retained certain exceptions and aimed to balance law-enforcement needs with civil rights. The committee adopted the strike-all amendment and reported CS for CS for CS for SB 212 favorably to the next stage.
Key quotes: - ‘‘It is not just — it is not a just law because it risks interrupting the lives of more than 20,000 people,’’ said Marcia Cantrell, who testified on behalf of community stakeholders opposing expanded restrictions. - ‘‘We're trying to make sure law enforcement has the right tools to be able to use in certain situations,’’ said Senator McLean.
Outcome: Committee adopted amendment and reported the bill favorably; the sponsor said judicial and statutory exceptions exist and that the bill’s goal is to give law enforcement additional tools in narrowly defined circumstances.
Speakers (attributed in text): Senator McLean (sponsor), Marcia Cantrell, Francine Richmond, Anne Salomon, Anita Killen, Angela Harris, and others who testified.
Provenance: Sponsor and amendment explanation and debate occur in segments beginning SEG 1703; public testimony spans SEG 1849–SEG 2170 and later; final committee vote at SEG 2232–2233 reported favorably.
