State Representative
Dennis Ozment

479 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296- 4306

For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:
April 10, 2002Doug Champeau (651-296-4305)
NEWS RELEASE
OZMENT LEGISLATION STRENGTHENS
SEXUAL OFFENDER NOTIFICATION LAW

ST. PAUL The Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation this week that strengthens the state's sex offender Community Notification Law by giving police and residents more advance notice when a Level III sex offender intends to move into their community.

Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount) proposed the change after an incident in Farmington in which police were given only one day's notice of a sex offender's intention to move into a local motel.

"In Farmington, there wasn't enough time for police to schedule a meeting to properly notify residents," Ozment said. "The public has a right to know well in advance when a sex offender moves into their community."

Under current law, a sex offender must give a probation officer or local police five days advance notice of their change of residency. Ozment's legislation would extend that time to 21 days in order to give a community more time to schedule a meeting. Ozment's legislation would also prohibit placing sex offenders in housing which is also being used to house domestic abuse victims.

"These changes close some gaps in our Community Notification Law," Ozment said. "Local residents can have greater assurance that the state and local law enforcement are doing everything they can to protect the community from serious sex offenders."

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