Committee amendment to bill on registered offenders and school bus stops adopted

Senator Adams (S11) explained a judiciary committee amendment to S631 that changes an agency reference from the Department of Health and Environmental Control to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and clarifies that the prohibition applies to school bus stops (not all public bus stops).

During questions, senators confirmed the bill targets school bus stops and that the amendment is a technical clean-up of agency language. Senator Adams said the bill would prohibit a registered sex offender (as described in the bill language) from moving to within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop; the bill would grandfather existing residents already inside the zone. The committee amendment was adopted by voice vote on the floor.

Senators noted additional amendments could follow. The session record shows the committee amendment was accepted and the bill remained on the calendar for further floor consideration; specific enforcement mechanisms and penalties were not detailed during the floor explanation.