Senate approves revised sex offender law

DES MOINES - The Iowa Senate voted to significantly revise the state's laws regarding sex offenders and to prohibit those convicted of sex offenses against minors from working or visiting places where children are likely to gather.

Senate File 340 cleared the Senate on a 49-0 vote Thursday night and is expected to gain approval in the House.

Gov. Chet Culver lent his support to the package, saying it would "make our laws tougher and smarter, and keep our communities even safer for our children."

The bill scales back the state's law banning some sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care, a rule that left large areas of cities off-limits to sex offenders looking for housing.

The so-called 2,000-foot rule drew harsh criticism from law enforcement officials who said it was difficult to enforce and did little to protect the public.

Under the bill approved in the Senate, only the most serious offenders would still be subject to that requirement.

The bill also would create exclusionary zones where registered sex offenders would be prohibited from working or visiting without permission. Those areas would include schools and other places where children gather.

A public hearing Monday night drew a large group of law enforcement officials who urged legislators to approve the plan, saying exclusionary or safe zones would help protect the public from sexual predators.

Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, said the new reporting requirements for registered sex offenders included in the bill would give parents, schools officials and the public increased access to information about them.

Under the bill, sex offenders on the state's registry also would be required to give passport and vehicle information as well as Internet user names to the local county sheriff.

"Today, we will vote to make Iowa's fight against sex offenders smarter, tougher and safer," Kreiman said.

Sen. Pat Ward, R-West Des Moines, said the bill written by Republicans and Democrats was an example of "what is good in politics."

"As a parent, I believe our kids and our grandkids will live in a safer state as a result of this law," Ward said.

Highlights of Senate File 340 - New restrictions on sex offenders

Exclusionary zones: Zones would apply to any offender with a sex offense against a minor. Offenders cannot visit schools, school buses, child care centers or public libraries without permission. They also are prohibited from loitering within 300 feet of schools or child care centers or loitering in places intended primarily for children when minors are present, including playgrounds, recreational areas, swimming pools and beaches.

Prohibited employment: People convicted of sex offenses against a minor could not work at city, county or state fairs, carnivals, children's arcades or amusement centers when minors are present. They also would be prohibited from working at playgrounds, beaches, minors' recreation or sport activity areas or public pools. All sex offenders could not work where dependent adults reside.

Who is required to register: Anyone convicted of a sexually violent offense or a sex offense against a minor more serious than a simple misdemeanor would be required to register. Those convicted of child pornography, incest, indecent exposure, or comparable offenses in another jurisdiction also would be included as well as those with sexually motivated offenses such as invasion of privacy or human trafficking for commercial sexual activity.

Registration requirements: Offenders would have to stay on the state's sex offender registry for 10 years for all sex offenses except aggravated offenses, which bring a lifetime registration requirement. The requirement would apply regardless of whether the offense occurred in Iowa or another state.

Residency restrictions: People convicted of first-, second- or third-degree sex abuse against a minor would be prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care. However, the restriction would not apply in "statutory" cases of third-degree sex abuse when a sex act with a minor was consensual.