Bill > H1520

This bill modifies how the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) evaluates and classifies individuals, aiming to clarify procedures and enhance due process. Key changes include allowing board staff to make recommended classifications with a board member's approval, though for juvenile offenders, this approval must come from a board member with specialized expertise in juvenile sex offender assessment. The bill outlines specific notification timelines for sex offenders prior to release or parole, informing them of their rights to submit evidence, their registration duties, and their right to request an evidentiary hearing to challenge their classification, with provisions for legal representation and expert witness fees for indigent offenders. It also introduces an expedited classification process if a district attorney demonstrates a grave risk of imminent reoffense. For offenders not in custody, similar notification and hearing rights are established. If a hearing is requested, a board member, panel, or hearing officer will determine the final classification and registration requirements by a preponderance of evidence, and if no hearing is requested, the recommended classification becomes final and not subject to judicial review. Additionally, the bill allows for judicial review of the board's final decisions and mandates that courts reach a decision within 60 days of a petition for review. Finally, it repeals a section of existing law related to the board.