localnews8.com: Wyoming Senate advances sex offender bills.
Cheyenne, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Senate has given preliminary approval to House bills setting tougher sentencing and living restrictions for sex offenders.
The Senate on Monday gave preliminary approval to House Bill 83. It would prohibit registered sex offenders from moving into residences within 2,000 feet of schools and also set other restrictions.
The Senate also gave preliminary approval House Bill 64. It would set a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for anyone 21 years old or older convicted of first-degree sexual abuse against a child 12 years old or younger.
Both bills have already passed the House and would need two more approvals in the Senate before heading to Gov. Dave Freudenthal for his signature.
Update March 2, 2010:
localnews8.com: Wyoming Senate modifies sex offender bill
The Wyoming Senate has voted to ease proposed restrictions on how close to schools registered sex offenders could live under a bill moving through the Legislature. The Senate on Tuesday approved House Bill 83 for the second time and accepted an amendment proposed by Sen. Bruce Burns, a Sheridan Republican.
Burns' amendment would reduce the bill's restriction on sex offenders moving into residences or lingering near schools from 2,000 feet down to 1,000 feet. Burns noted that Wyoming is a state of very small towns. He says that a restriction on living within 2,000 feet of schools would mean that registered sex offenders couldn't live in many towns.
