Committee approves bill to notify opted-in victims when offenders seek removal from registry

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance SB96, a bill requiring that when a registered offender petitions a court to be removed from the offenders list, the victim or victims who have opted in and kept their contact information current be notified by the victim-notification system.

Sen. Dave Wallace (District 19) described a case from his hometown in which a victim of abuse was not told that the offender had applied to be removed from the registry and said the bill simply requires notice be given to victims who have chosen to be contacted. "If those victims have opted in, VINE would be responsible to notify the victim that your abuser is going to apply to be removed," he said.

Under the bill as presented, notification would be required only for those victims who have opted in and kept their information updated; there is no notice requirement for victims who do not opt in. No members of the public signed up to speak for or against the bill during the committee hearing.

The committee moved the bill by voice vote; senators recorded no opposition during that segment of the hearing.

What's next: SB96 heads to the Senate floor for consideration. Supporters characterized the measure as a limited, victim-centered correction to existing procedure.