Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Citizens Banned From Library, Pools, Beaches

lemarssentinel.com - Le Mars, Iowa : New library law reads: Sex offenders stay out.

A new law, which became effective July 1, states sex offenders convicted of a sex offense against a minor cannot be on public library property without permission of a library administrator.

Under the law sex offenders also cannot loiter within 300 feet of the property boundary of a library.

As of July 1, the new law also bans these types of sex offenders from places like play areas, swimming or wading pools or beaches when available to the public and in use by a minor.

The law also requires sex offenders to obtain permission from administrators to enter nonpublic or public elementary and secondary schools or be on school property.

The trustees also discussed that within the law there is no language as to how sex offenders will be identified. They do not have to disclose their status to library personnel.

"The Legislators put it out there and leave it to the rest of us to figure out," Kroesche said.