SCS SB 73 -- SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

SPONSOR:  Champion (Weter)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Crime Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute allows each county sheriff to maintain a web
page, available to the public, providing information about
registered sexual offenders.  The web page can show only an
offender's name, address, photograph, and the crimes for which
the offender was required to register.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the public needs to know if a
sex offender lives in the neighborhood, and the Internet is the
most efficient method of supplying that information.  The bill
clarifies that sheriffs have the authority to put the sex
offender registries on the Internet.  One sheriff was threatened
with a lawsuit over posting photos of the offenders on the
sheriff's office web site.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Champion.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm