Existing law, the Sex Offender Registration Act, requires a person convicted of certain crimes, as specified, for the rest of his or her life while residing in California, or while attending school or working in California, as specified, to register with law enforcement as a sex offender. Under existing law, a person registered as a sex offender is required to register annually and to register a new address if he or she changes residence.

This bill would require an employee of a law enforcement agency who receives the registration of a sex offender or the update to a registration to check the address given by the sex offender and ensure that the address is not that of a place where the sex offender is prohibited from staying or a place that serves the needs of children. The bill would require the employee of the law enforcement agency to inform the person if the registered address is a place where the person is prohibited from being and would require the person to find a new address within 60 days and register that new address with the appropriate law enforcement agency. By increasing the duties of local law enforcement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.