Bill > SB441

This bill allows counties in Texas to restrict registered sex offenders from going within a specified distance (up to 1,000 feet) of "child safety zones" in the unincorporated areas of the county. The bill defines "child safety zones" as premises where children commonly gather, such as schools, daycares, playgrounds, and youth centers. The bill provides an affirmative defense for registered sex offenders if they have a legitimate purpose for being in a child safety zone, such as transporting a child they are legally permitted to be with or going to work. The bill also requires the county to establish procedures for registered sex offenders to apply for exemptions and to exempt those who already lived within the restricted distance of a child safety zone before the order was adopted.