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Lawmaker seeks to bar sex offenders from living near youth shelters Friday, Jul 18, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - State Rep. Jim Medley, R-Fort Smith, wants to make it illegal for registered sex offenders to live near emergency shelters for children. A legislative panel agreed Thursday to study Medley's proposal to prohibit Level 3 and 4 sex offenders from living within a mile of "property on which any emergency shelter for children is located." Medley, who is term-limited, said he hopes someone will carry the legislation in the 2009 session. He said he drafted a bill after a constituent informed him that some registered sex offenders in Fort Smith live close to children's emergency shelters - including one who lives across the street from a shelter. "Actually, I thought it was already a law," Medley said. "I was kind of surprised." Medley said that after he prepared his draft bill, the state Department of Human Services recommended that the term "emergency" be removed so the law could apply to all youth shelters. The suggestion seems to be a good one, he said. State law now prohibits Level 3 and 4 sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, public park, youth center or day care facility. Medley said he is proposing barrier of a mile between sex offenders and children's shelters because the children in the shelters are especially vulnerable. |
