IA- House approves overhaul of sex-offender laws

4-24-2009 Iowa:

DES MOINES — The Iowa House gave final approval Friday to a major overhaul of state laws dealing with sex offenders, including the creation of new exclusionary zones where offenders would be prohibited from visiting or working without permission.

Senate File 340 scales back a controversial law passed in 2002 that bans some sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care.

Critics of the 2,000-foot law, which included scores of law enforcement officials, said it made sex offenders more difficult to track and did little to protect the public because it only restricted where they could sleep at night.

Under the new bill, only offenders with the most serious crimes would be subject to the 2,000-foot rule.

Supporters of the bill say the new exclusionary zones are a better way to keep sex offenders away from children in schools and a whole list of places where children gather, such as playgrounds and libraries.
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“Designating exclusionary zones and restricting employment further protects our families in the areas that were designed to be enjoyed by families,” said Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport.

The House approved the measure on a 93-3 vote, sending it to Gov. Chet Culver, who said he will sign it.

Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, called the changes “smarter, much tougher and more effective” that the current law.

“It will give law enforcement a tool that they can really use to protect our children,” Baudler said.

But some expressed concern with the changes.

“I’m just trying to figure out how to tell my day-care provider back home that with this legislation, a sex offender can live next door and sit in their backyard,” said Rep. Jodi Tymeson, R-Winterset.

The House rejected an amendment filed by Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, that would have kept the 2,000-foot rule in place for many offenders and allowed communities to adopt their own ordinances dealing with sex offenders.

Republicans voting against the final bill included Dawn Pettengill of Mount Auburn, Doug Struyk of Council Bluffs and Christopher Rants of Sioux City.

Rants complained that the bill did not comply with the federal Adam Walsh act dealing with sex offenders, and that Iowa’s sex offender registry requirements would be less strict than neighboring states.

“Where do you think those people are going to move to?” Rants said. “They’re not moving from Iowa to Illinois; they won’t be moving from Sioux City to South Dakota.” ..News Source.. by CHARLOTTE EBY, Courier Des Moines Bureau