Gardner’s bill to protect women, children from sex offenders signed into law

May 29, 2012

DENVER—The governor signed state Rep. Bob Gardner’s House Bill 1346 into law last week.  The new law fixes a loophole in current statute in order to protect women and children from sex offenders.

Gardner’s measure creates a mechanism for sex offenders who do not have a fixed residence to register with local law enforcement every one or three months, depending on the offender’s registration status.

“This law protects women and children and meets the expectations we’ve placed on the sex offender registration program,” Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, said.  “By closing this loophole, sex offenders will be required to register with law enforcement, regardless of whether they have a fixed residence or not.”

Gardner’s law creates a new classified misdemeanor for individuals who fail to verify their location as a sex offender, punishable by up to one year in a county jail.

“The lack of an address should not grant a sex offender the chance to avoid registration,” Gardner added.  “This law will help ensure all sex offenders, transient or not, are registered with the proper authorities.”

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