Senate nixes sex offender restrictions

4-11-2011 Maine:

Augusta — The Midcoast's three Republican state senators were divided last week on a bill that would have allowed communities to set greater restrictions on where convicted sex offenders could live.

The state Senate voted 19-16 on April 7 to reject the minority recommendation of the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee for approval of LD 8.

State Sens. A. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, and Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, voted for the bill. State Sen. Christopher Rector, R-Thomaston, voted against the measure.

After defeating the minority report for passage, the Senate took a voice vote to approve the majority report of the committee that the bill be defeated. The House has yet to vote on LD 8.

The bill would have allowed municipalities that have no police chief to prohibit certain sex offenders to live within 2,500 feet of a school. For communities with a police chief, the municipality could restrict the sex offender from living within 750 feet of a school.

People convicted of felony sex offenses against children younger than 14 years old would have been covered by the legislation. ..Source.. by Stephen Betts