45-5-513. Geographic restrictions applicable to high-risk sexual offenders. (1) A high-risk sexual offender as provided in this section may not:

(a) establish a residence within 300 feet of a school, day-care center, playground, developed or improved park, athletic field or facility that primarily serves minors, or business or facility having a principal purpose of caring for, educating, or entertaining minors. This subsection (1)(a) does not apply if the residence was established on or before May 5, 2015.

(b) establish a residence or any other living accommodation in a place where a minor resides, except that the offender may reside with a minor if the offender is the parent, grandparent, or stepparent of the minor unless:

(i) the offender's parental rights were terminated or are in the process of being terminated as provided by law;

(ii) the offender was convicted of a sexual offense in which any of the offender's minor children, grandchildren, or stepchildren were the victim; or

(iii) the offender was convicted of a sexual offense in which a minor was the victim and the minor resided with the offender at the time of the offense;

(c) knowingly make any visual or audible sexually suggestive or obscene gesture, sound, or communication at or to a former victim or a member of the victim's immediate family;

(d) knowingly come within 300 feet of a former victim of the offender without the prior written permission of the victim or the victim's legal guardian;

(e) accept, maintain, or carry on regular employment at or within 300 feet of a school, day-care center, playground, developed or improved park, athletic field or facility that primarily serves minors, or business or facility having a principal purpose of caring for, educating, or entertaining minors.

(2) A high-risk sexual offender who knowingly violates a provision of this section is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in 46-18-213.

(3) For high-risk sexual offenders who are no longer under the supervision of the department of corrections, the residential and geographic restrictions provided in subsections (1)(a) and (1)(e) do not apply if the high-risk sexual offender possesses an approved safety plan from a sexual offender evaluator to mitigate the risk of reoffending and protect public safety. The safety plan must be reevaluated annually by a sexual offender evaluator to ensure any conditions or requirements are adequate and protect public safety.

(4) This section does not apply to offenders who are placed in a facility in operation by the department of corrections, the department of public health and human services, or a contractor with either department before October 1, 2015. The department of corrections and the department of public health and human services shall adopt rules specifying the type of facility to which this section applies.

(5) The department of corrections and the department of public health and human services may also exempt from the requirements of this section offenders who are placed in a facility to be operated by either department or a contractor with either department beginning on or after October 1, 2015. The department of corrections and the department of public health and human services shall adopt rules specifying facilities to which this subsection applies. As part of the process of granting an exemption to a facility constructed or designated after October 1, 2015, the department of corrections and the department of public health and human services shall hold at least one public hearing in the community where the facility is to be located.

(6) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Day-care center" has the meaning provided in 52-2-703.

(b) "High-risk sexual offender" means a person 18 years of age or older who is designated as a sexually violent predator under 46-23-509 and has committed a sexual offense against a victim 12 years of age or younger.

(c) "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.

(d) "Regular employment" means employment for which a sexual offender has a reasonable expectation of employment for longer than 90 days.

(e) "Sexual offense" has the meaning provided in 46-23-502.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 412, L. 2015.