Senate committee amends and advances bill tightening reporting for homeless registered sex offenders

The Senate Public Safety Committee amended and advanced SB468, a bill aimed at closing reporting and monitoring gaps for registered sex offenders who are unsheltered or homeless.

Sponsor Sen. Cousert said the measure addresses a loophole for people without a fixed residence by defining where a homeless registrant “resides” (where they sleep) and requiring them to report changes in sleeping location within 36 hours. The bill also requires notification to providers of homeless assistance and preserves proximity restrictions—such as the existing 1,000‑foot limit that bars registrants from being near places where children congregate.

Cousert acknowledged constitutional limits on monitoring people who are not under supervision and described a compromise that lets sheriffs notify probation or parole officers when someone fails to comply, allowing supervisors to consider electronic monitoring under their authority. He said the proposal does not seek to impose ankle monitors beyond existing supervision authority.

Witnesses were split. Sheriffs’ representatives and advocates for registry enforcement said the changes will help enforcement and public safety by reducing untracked movement. Civil‑justice groups, defense lawyers, and Restore Georgia urged caution—arguing the bill could impose burdens on people experiencing homelessness, displace them from services and housing options, and erode individualized, evidence‑based risk assessment. Department of Community Supervision staff proposed technical amendments to align supervision authority and pay provisions; the committee adopted conforming changes recommended by DCS.

After adopting the amendments by voice vote, the committee voted on the amended bill; the chair recorded one opposed during the final hand vote and moved the bill forward.