(A) No registrant who is required to register pursuant to section 3797.02 of the Revised Code, send a sheriff a written notice of a new residence or employment address or of an intent to reside in a county pursuant to section 3797.03 of the Revised Code, or verify a current address pursuant to section 3797.05 of the Revised Code shall fail to register, send the notice, or verify the address as required by those sections.

(B) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (A) of this section by failing to send written notice of a change of residence or employment address or notice of intent to reside in a county as required by section 3797.03 of the Revised Code that both of the following apply:

(1) It was impossible for the registrant to provide the notice to the sheriff because of a lack of knowledge on the date specified for the provision of the notice of an address change or of the new address.

(2) The registrant provided notice of the address change or the new address to the sheriff as soon as possible, but not later than the end of the first business day, after learning of the address change or of the new address by providing notice of the address change or the new address to the sheriff by telephone immediately upon learning of the address change or new address or, if the registrant did not have reasonable access to a telephone at that time, as soon as possible, but not later than the end of the first business day, after learning of the address change and having reasonable access to a telephone.

(3) As soon as possible, but not later than the end of the first business day, after providing notice of the address change to the sheriff by telephone, the registrant provided written notice of the address change to the sheriff.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

Effective Date: 08-03-2006.