IN HIS STATE of the State address, Governor Jim Gibbons proposed stricter requirements for sex offenders and described the need to close loopholes in existing sex offender legislation. Those proposals were included in Senate Bill 471, which passed out of the legislature today and is now headed to the Governor's desk for signature.

Specifically, this bill requires incarcerated sex offenders to register with law enforcement as a condition of their parole, prior to their release from prison. Current law only requires sex offenders to register within 48 hours of their release, allowing a margin of time when their whereabouts are unknown.

Additionally, all sex offenders convicted outside of the State of Nevada will be required to submit their DNA samples to local law enforcement upon their relocation to our state. Current law requires out-of-state sex offenders to register with local law enforcement once they relocate to Nevada; however, it does not require them to submit a DNA sample as required of those convicted in our state.

"The necessary safeguards included in this legislation will protect the well-being of children and families and provide greater safety for our communities," said Governor Gibbons.

This bill will also provide GPS monitoring of Nevada's tier three sex offenders who are on parole or probation. Tier three sex offenders are considered the most dangerous sexual predators and are statistically proven to be the most likely to re-offend. "GPS monitoring will allow the Department of Public Safety to better track the whereabouts of high risk sex offenders, enhancing the safety and protection of our communities, homes, and schools," Governor Gibbons concluded.

In addition, SB 471 also includes safeguards originally included in SB 232, which was introduced by Senator Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas). The additional safeguards create safety zones prohibiting tier three offenders from living or being in places that are frequently visited by children. Safety zones include: amusement parks, arcades, and schools.

"This is a strong, comprehensive package of measures to help protect our children, building on strides we made last session," Senator Titus said. "We cannot allow Nevada to become a haven for sexual predators."