Sexual offenses; those convicted prohibited entry onto school property. (HB567)

Introduced By

Del. Anne Crockett-Stark (R-Wytheville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Sex offenses prohibiting entry onto school property; penalty. Provides that every adult who is convicted of a sexually violent offense, as defined in 9.1-902, shall be prohibited from entering and being present upon any property he knows or has reason to know is a public or private elementary or secondary school or child day center property. Currently, the prohibition only applies during school hours. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/07/2008Committee
01/07/2008Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 086351480
01/07/2008Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/08/2008Impact statement from VCSC (HB567)
01/16/2008Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/04/2008Impact statement from DPB (HB567)
02/04/2008Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2008Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/06/2008Assigned App. sub: Public Safety (Sherwood)
02/08/2008Reported from Appropriations (24-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2008Read first time
02/11/2008Read second time and engrossed
02/12/2008Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
02/12/2008VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2008Communicated to Senate
02/13/2008Constitutional reading dispensed
02/13/2008Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/14/2008Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/28/2008Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/29/2008Committee substitute printed 080911480-S1
02/29/2008Impact statement from VCSC (HB567S1)
03/03/2008Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
03/04/2008Read third time
03/04/2008Reading of substitute waived
03/04/2008Committee substitute agreed to 080911480-S1
03/04/2008Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB567S1
03/04/2008Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N)
03/05/2008VOTE: --- ADOPTION (1-Y 97-N)
03/05/2008VOTE: --- ADOPTION #2 (0-Y 99-N)
03/05/2008Placed on Calendar
03/05/2008Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 97-N)
03/05/2008VOTE: --- REJECTED (1-Y 97-N)
03/05/2008Reconsideration of Senate substitute agreed to by House
03/05/2008Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N)
03/05/2008VOTE: --- REJECTED #2 (0-Y 99-N)
03/06/2008Senate insisted on substitute (39-Y 0-N)
03/06/2008Senate requested conference committee
03/06/2008House acceded to request
03/06/2008Conferees appointed by House
03/06/2008Delegates: Crockett-Stark, Athey, Dance
03/06/2008Conferees appointed by Senate
03/06/2008Senators: Deeds, Puller, Cuccinelli
03/07/2008Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 0-N)
03/07/2008VOTE: --- ADOPTION (93-Y 0-N)
03/07/2008Conference substitute printed 081590480-H1
03/08/2008Reading of conference report waived
03/08/2008Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
03/10/2008Impact statement from VCSC (HB567H1)
03/24/2008Enrolled
03/24/2008Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB567ER)
03/24/2008Signed by Speaker
03/26/2008Signed by President
04/02/2008G Approved by Governor-Chapter 781 (effective 7/1/08)
04/03/2008Impact statement from DPB (HB567ER)

Comments

cvllelaw writes:

This bill would ban sex offenders -- a group that includes lots of people who are no danger to kids (an 18-year-old has consensual sex with a 15-year-old 20 years ago, for example) -- from going to a public building where many activities that have nothing to do with children are being conducted. Adult basketball leagues in the gym at night, public tennis courts, political conventions and visiting ballet performances, just for a few examples. That makes no sense.

L. Lawless writes:

One impact not noted by cvllelaw is that many offenders will be prevented from attending their churches if a preschool operates there during the week.

It should be noted that in Virginia, many non-violent offenses have been reclassified in the past few years to be considered "sexually violent" even if there was never any contact with a child at all. Although Rob Bell argued last year that this bill applied to only "violent" offenders, this is simply not true and has had the effect of elevating many minor offenders to "sexually violent" status.

Marsha Maines writes:

sorry, this one stinks too. what about the wrongfully convicted 'sexual predators' that have children. now they can't even go to their own kid's christmas programs??nope, too many people are getting 'over protective' by segrating others into the have's and 'should have nots'..

Julie writes:

I think everyone else has said what I would have said. If these people have served their time and have been deemed by the courts not to be a threat to society (post probation, etc.), have proven their willingness to be rehabilitated, these laws could only have a negative effect.

L. Lawless writes:

This bill was heard in sub-committee 1/16. Despite testimony and delegate discussion about the fact that this bill would have serious negative impact on former offenders, it was reported to the Courts of Justice.

Issues included the following:
* Many churches have services in schools.
* Many/most churches provide child care during the week and are included in this bill.
* Community colleges often hold classes in schools.
* Many GED programs are held in schools.
* AA/NA meetings are often held in schools or in churches (that are off-limits because of the daycare issue)
* In rural communities, many organizations hold their meetings in schools
* Public community hearings are often held in schools
* A variety of non-school-related performances are given in schools

This bill will ban former offenders from access to education, church, rehabilitative services, and many community events. Testimony regarding the ineffectiveness of such laws was, as usual, disregarded.

What was appalling was that the delegate who talked the most about the variety of activities held in schools and the major impact it would have on former offenders STILL voted for it.

Rant over ...