TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Legislation passed its first committee assignment Thursday that will seek further definitions of requirements for sexual predators and offenders to report information.
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill, HB 1235, by Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville. Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, sponsored the companion legislation in the Senate, SB 1230.
Baker’s bill would change Florida statute to allow for sexual predators and sexual offenders to use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s online system to report any changes to vehicles owned.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office must report to the department if a predator or offender maintains a transient residence for more than two days, after they report to the sheriff.
A transient residence is defined in the bill as a place where the predator resides for a temporary period of time. The location does not have a registered address and is not the predator’s primary residence.
The bill also outlines punishment for when a predator or offender illegally provides the wrong address or fails to provide one at all. When the individual fails to respond to an address verification correspondence or update their information, they will automatically be charged with a third degree felony.
One amendment was passed changing the effective date from July 1 to October 1.
Members of the public spoke in favor of the bill, including an individual representing the Florida Action Committee, an activist group seeking to educate people on the “facts” and “myths” surrounding the sex offender registry.