STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT RAMSEY PRAISES NEW SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION

 ATLANTA—Georgia State Representative Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) today praised the actions of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee on passage of House Bill 908 amending Georgia’s current sex offender laws and to provide greater protections for Georgia’s children.  Ramsey is a member of the committee and voted with his colleagues in favor of this legislation.

“As a parent with two pre-school age children, I believe this measure is an appropriate and responsible step towards ensuring the protection of our children from dangerous sexual predators,” Ramsey said.  “These new modifications to our current laws regarding residency restrictions of convicted sexual predators should satisfy the concerns of the Georgia Supreme Court while also maintaining a safe distance between areas where our children play and where these convicted sex offenders live or work.”

House Bill 908 would amend current law and provide for the following:

• Adds to public libraries to the definition of “area where minors congregate”
• Adds a definition of “day care centers”
• Provides that no sex offender or designated sexual predator shall volunteer within 1000 feet of a school, church, child care facility or area where minors congregate
• Provides that the 1000 foot measurement for the workplace be measured from outer boundary to outer boundary of the location where the registered individual actually carries out the functions of his or her job
• Provides that a registered sex offender may not live within 1000 feet of a school, child care facility, church or area where minors congregate
• Additionally provides that the registered individual will have ten days to prove, through acceptable documentation, to the sheriff that his or her residence or employment was established prior to the location of the school, church, child care facility or area where minors congregate

This legislation now moves to the House Rules Committee for consideration and to be placed on the calendar for vote by the full House.

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