House OKs bill to help supervise predatory offenders

Proposed technical changes in statute are aimed to help the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension assist local law enforcement and probation agencies with the supervision of predatory offenders and to treat them in a consistent manner.

Sponsored by Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), HF2574/SF2546* contains a variety of policy changes to the predatory offender registration law and sex offender sentencing provisions.

Passed as amended 131-0 by the House Tuesday, the bill goes to the governor. The Senate passed it 64-0 May 7.

Among the changes, the bill would expand the list of offenses and circumstances that would require offenders to register as a predatory offender, including promoting prostitution of a minor, receiving profits from the prostitution of a minor and sex trafficking.

Additionally, all conduct related to electronic communications with a child relating to or describing sexual conduct or distributing materials that relates to or describes sexual conduct would be an offense requiring registration.

If a person required to register as a predatory offender in another state or for a federal offense moves to Minnesota, they must register with the BCA regardless of whether the offense for which their registration requirement is based would require registration based on Minnesota law.

A corrections agent or law enforcement authority overseeing registration would have permission to photograph any offender for any level at any time. Under current law, this mandatory provision requires photographs every six months, but applies only to Level III offenders.

Predatory offenders who fail to supply required location information to the BCA shall, rather than may, have their registration period extended by five years to better reflect current practice.