Child Safe Zones (H 7764A as amended, S 2751B)

In June, the House approved legislation prohibiting any person convicted of a sex offense with a minor from holding employment in a wide range of jobs, even if that job never involved interaction with a child. In April, the ACLU testified before the House Judiciary committee that the legislation’s attempt at creating so-called “child safe zones” was too broadly worded, prohibiting individuals from being employed in any capacity by third-party vendors and contractors who did business with facilities serving children, including beaches and libraries, but never involved contact with children. Under this legislation, for example, a person with a sex offense would be prohibited from working in the billing department of a produce company, if that company was contracted to provide produce to a school or children’s hospital. Further, the legislation included no grandfather clause, meaning individuals currently employed by these facilities will have to lose their jobs upon passage. Although the Senate failed to vote on their own version of the bill, the Senate approved the House version in June. The ACLU has requested the Governor veto this legislation.