Bill To Revive Restrictions On Sex-Offender Housing Stalls

SACRAMENTO (AP) — A bill seeking to revive broad restrictions on where sex offenders can live in California has stalled in a state Senate committee.

Republican Sen. Sharon Runner of Lancaster introduced SB54 after the state Supreme Court ruled that prohibiting all sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools or parks goes too far.

State parole officers now impose the restriction only on pedophiles and others whose sex crimes involved children.

Runner co-authored the ban as part of what became known as Jessica's law, approved by voters eight years ago. Her new bill would have let judges in each county decide if the 2,000-foot limit is too restrictive in their jurisdiction.

The measure received just two "yes" votes Tuesday, both from Republicans, in the Senate's seven-member Public Safety Committee.