The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 522, deterring serious sex offenders from entering school grounds. Sen. Mrvan explained that the bill defines “serious sex offenders” and makes it a Level 6 felony for a serious sex offender to enter school property. The bill allows these offenders to vote by mail. The Committee expressed concern about the bill’s creation of a new category of sex offenders and asked whether the sex offender registry or sexually violent predator statutory categories could be used instead. In discussion, it was noted that the sex offender registry responsibility ends for many after ten years and that sexually violent predators could seek to have their status removed by judicial hearing. Sponsor Rep. Smaltz said that he and Sen. Mrvan are willing to utilize the sex offender registry definition instead. The bill was held to allow the definition change to be explored.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/522.