2017 -- H 5724

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LC001857

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND

COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Jacquard, Vella-Wilkinson, McNamara, and
O'Brien

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-37.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-37.1 entitled "Sexual

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Offender Registration and Community Notification" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-37.1-11. Release of information.

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     (a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or as provided in subsections (b) or (c)

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of this section, no information obtained under this chapter shall be released or transferred without

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the written consent of the person or his or her authorized representative.

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     (b) No consent for release or transfer of information obtained under this chapter shall be

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required in the following instances:

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     (1) Information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement

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purposes;

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     (2) Information may be disclosed to government agencies conducting confidential

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background checks;

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     (3) The designated law enforcement agency and any local law enforcement agency

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authorized by the state agency may release relevant information that is necessary to protect

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individuals concerning a specific person required to register under this chapter, except that the

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identity of a victim of an offense that requires registration under this section shall not be released;

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     (4) Information may be released or disseminated in accordance with the provisions of §

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11-37.1-12; and

 

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     (5) Information shall be disclosed by the local police department to the general public in

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a city or town for those registered offenders determined to be either a level 2 or level 3 offender

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as determined consistent with parole board guidelines. ; and

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     (6) Information shall be disclosed by the local police department to the local school

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department for those registered offenders determined to be level 3 offenders by the parole board

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for the purposes of notifying parents of students whose bus stop is within one thousand feet

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(1,000') of a level 3 sex offender's residence.

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     (c) Any local law enforcement agency shall release relevant information collected

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pursuant to § 11-37.1-3(c) to any campus police agency appointed pursuant to § 16-15-2 or police

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for private institutions appointed pursuant to § 12-2.1-1 for any person having a duty to register

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who is enrolled in, employed by or carrying on a vocation at an institution of higher education.

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That agency may release relevant information that is necessary to protect individuals concerning

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a specific person required to register under this chapter, except that the identity of a victim of an

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offense that requires registration under this section shall not be released.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND

COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

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     This act would require local law enforcement to share information with local school

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departments for the purposes of notifying parents of students whose bus stop is within one

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thousand feet (1000') of the residence of a level 3 sex offender.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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