Bill > H1215

This bill modifies existing laws to enhance protections for children against sex offenders by ensuring that sex offenders are properly notified of their rights and responsibilities regarding classification and registration. Specifically, it mandates that at least 180 days before a sex offender is released or paroled from custody, or upon receiving registration data for offenders not in custody, the board must inform the offender about their right to submit evidence concerning their risk of re-offending and the danger they pose to the public, as well as their duty to register. If the offender is a juvenile, this notification must also be sent to their legal guardian and most recent attorney. The bill outlines a process for offenders to submit evidence, with opportunities for extensions, and specifies timelines for the board to provide a recommended classification, inform the offender of their right to a hearing to challenge this classification and their registration duties, and their right to legal representation, including appointed counsel for indigent individuals. It also allows for payment of expert witness fees for indigent offenders in certain circumstances, and sets deadlines for requesting hearings, with failure to meet these deadlines resulting in the board's classification becoming final.