HCS HB 788, 428 & 106 -- REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS (Smith)

This substitute modifies provisions relating to the registration
of sex offenders.  In its major provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires the Department of Public Safety to put information
regarding persons who are required to register as sex offenders
on the department's internet web site.  The site will include
the person's name, photograph, birth date, address, and status
as a persistent or predatory sex offender.  The site will also
include a description of the crime committed which requires
registration and any information that the department determines
is necessary to preserve public safety.  This provision of the
substitute will expire on August 28, 2005;

(2)  Requires sex offenders to register in the county where they
work, attend school, or are present for 10 or more consecutive
days within a 12 month period;

(3)  Requires procedures to register military offenders living
within the state;

(4)  Requires Missouri officials to notify officials in other
states when a registrant is leaving Missouri to reside in
another state;

(5)  Requires courts to record the age of the victim if the
defendant will be required to register as a sex offender; and

(6)  Prohibits the granting of probation or parole to a person
required to register unless registration is a condition of the
probation or parole.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HCS HB 788, 428 & 106 -- REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS

SPONSOR:  Smith

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Civil and
Administrative Law by a vote of 17 to 1.

This substitute requires the Department of Public Safety to put
information regarding persons who are required to register as
sex offenders on the department's internet web site.  The site
will include the person's name, photograph, birth date, address,
and status as a persistent or predatory sex offender.  The site
will also include a description of the crime committed which
requires registration and any information that the department
determines is necessary to preserve public safety.  The
provisions of the substitute will expire on August 28, 2005.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill simply provides
another way to disseminate information that already is available
to the public, and there have been many requests by the public
for online access to this information.  Many federal grant
programs are starting to require this type of access as a
condition for continued receipt of federal funding.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Smith; Department of
Public Safety; Missouri Highway Patrol; and Office of the
Governor.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the bill does not
protect women and children from attack, while it deprives
offenders' families and possibly the offenders' victims, all of
whom are innocent, of privacy.  There should be different levels
of notification, based upon the type and severity of the
offense, and misdemeanors should be removed from the list.

Testifying against the bill was American Civil Liberties Union
of Eastern Missouri.

Julie Jinkens McNitt, Legislative Analyst

HB 788 -- Registration of Sex Offenders

Co-Sponsors:  Smith, Gaw, Berkowitz, Farnen, Parker, Kissell,
Hosmer, Clayton

This bill requires the Department of Public Safety to put
information regarding persons who are required to register as
sex offenders on the department's internet web site.  The site
will include the person's name, photograph, birth date, address,
place of employment, and status as a persistent or predatory sex
offender.  The site will also include a description of the crime
committed which requires registration and any information that
the department determines is necessary to preserve public safety.