Georgia Legislative Watch

The House Judiciary Committee (non-civil) moved a new version of Georgia’s sex offender bill through its first legislative hurdle:

Georgia lawmakers on Wednesday moved again toward imposing strict residency requirements on sex offenders, but resisted calls to change other parts of the law that could face legal challenges.

By a 9-4 vote, a House judiciary panel approved changes designed to appease the state’s top court, which overturned the strict new residency requirements in November. But sponsors refused to address other parts of the law, which critics said could ultimately do more harm than good by rendering vast residential areas off-limits to sex offenders.

“If someone wants to incorporate those concerns in a bill, we will hear that,” said state Rep. David Ralston, the proposal’s sponsor. But he added, “I didn’t think it was appropriate to reopen the entire law.”
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In November the Georgia Supreme Court overturned portions of the law, ruling that it failed to protect the property rights of offenders, who could be forced to move if a facility catering to children pops up near their home.

The latest version of the bill aims to get around the court’s concerns by allowing a sex offender who owns his or her home to stay there if a center where children gather later opens up nearby. It carves out a similar exception for sex offenders who have established employment.

I believe the bill is HB 908.