UT- Legislature considers revising sex offender laws

Something is becoming apparent with these newer bills they are encroaching into personal lives to an extent so as to deprive the person his/her liberty guaranteed by the US Constitution. There will be a straw that breaks the camel's back coming and courts will declare these unconstitutional, as they protect no one, they are the result of a mind suffering from control fantasies, without regard to civil rights of the person. Utah is Sen. Hatch's state and we know how he feels about former sex offenders:

1) Verbal Vigilantism by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, on the Nancy Grace show 7-16-2006, speaking about the Adam Walsh Act which was not yet enacted on that date:
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: "Well, the bill really puts the screws to
those who are sexual predators, and you know, sexual offenders. You know, we
have ..." Quoted from: CNN Transcript of Nancy Grace show 7-16-2006. For the rest of the story.

1-28-2009 Utah:

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Two bills designed to strengthen rules governing sex offenders will be considered by legislative committees.

House Bill 41 would require officials to update registries within five days after a sex offender has moved in an effort to keep old and new neighborhood records current.

House Bill 29 seeks to protect children 14 and younger from sex offenders. It would require a sex offender to obtain written permission from a child's parent if the offender is to accompany the child anywhere.

Both bills are scheduled to be heard Wednesday.

Utah has about 7,000 registered sex offenders in the state database and has an e-mail program where residents can sign up and receive alerts if an offender moves into their neighborhood. ..News Source.. by LocalNews8.com



Legislators push for changes to sex-offender laws

Lawmakers are looking to protect children and ramp up the sex-offender registry through a pair of bills.

HB41 would require offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies rather than the Department of Corrections.

Sponsor Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, said his measure would give a sheriff's office or police department a chance to meet with offenders living in their communities, and would ensure out-of-state sex offenders register when they move to Utah.

Law enforcers supported his measure Wednesday.

"The local agency needs to know first," said Saratoga Springs Police Chief Gary Hicken. "We check on sex offenders every 90 days, but there would be no requirement to do that. It's just a wise thing to do."

A second proposal -- HB29 -- would require offenders to remain on the registry for at least 10 years, five more than the current minimum. Offenders could not defend themselves by saying they didn't know a minor's age.

The bill also would make it a class A misdemeanor for registered offenders to be with a child away from the juvenile's home without written permission from a parent or guardian, and an offender would need a parent's verbal consent to be with a child at the juvenile's home.

Sponsor Rep. Richard Greenwood, R-Roy, said Wednesday that police are frustrated that predatory sex offenders can entice children to accompany them without facing any penalties. Officers can do nothing until a kidnapping occurs.

"Now the law could do something -- even if the child runs," he said.

HB41 passed the House last year, but the Senate did not hear the bill before the session ended. Both bills got stuck in committee Wednesday morning while analysts determine their fiscal impact. ..Source..