Sex offenders in emergency shelters; notification registration. Provides that a registered sex offender who enters an emergency shelter designated by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and operated in response to a declared state or local emergency shall, as soon as practicable after entry, notify a member of the shelter’s staff who is responsible for providing security of such person’s status as a registered sex offender. The bill provides that the shelter’s staff may access the publicly available information on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry regarding such person and use such information in making reasonable accommodations to ensure the safety of all persons in the shelter; however, no person shall be denied entry solely on the basis of his status as a sex offender unless such entry is otherwise prohibited by law. The bill also requires that such person register with the local law-enforcement agency where the shelter is located within three days of entering the shelter if such person continues to reside in the shelter at that time.
Segregation is bad. Segregation at a time of an emergency is just evil.
But we’re felons.
A VA politician is booking for brownie points here and trying to look good with a RC shelter law. There is already in place a law that says any change in residences requires registration within three days. If the RC is living in a shelter for longer than three days, then this law is applicable to the RC to register the new residence, even if it is a shelter (food, roof over their head and comfort to live in for the time being). Why duplicate that fact with a new law?
Why does the staff need permission to access a publicly available regulatory and not punishing website? They have permission already as they are part of the public to get to a publicly available website.
This proposed law is merely a waste of VA taxpayer money, a duplication of what is already on the books, and by someone taking a potential solution trying to find a problem (that probably came from the FLA hurricane news stories) that does not need to be fixed if they implemented and executed the law already on the books!
I hope Mary Devoy of VA RSOL at least can read these facts here and get someone to wake up in Richmond (e.g. new governor perhaps?) to squash this before the legislature appears more silly than it already is given their track record on laws like this!