The bill came up for a floor vote in the House today.

Rep. Jennifer Brown attempted to amend the bill, adding provisions similar to HB1501, where two teenagers who engage in a single instance of consensual sex that crosses the age-of-consent boundary would not result in a registrable offense. The amendment was torpedoed when another representative asked a question, implying that the amendment would protect first-time child rapists—ignoring the fact that Rep. Brown explicitly said it only applied to consensual acts.

The amendment was narrowly defeated by a voice vote. The bill was then put to a voice vote and passed overwhelmingly, with only a dozen or so nays.

On 2008-02-19, this bill passed out of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee with a unanimous Inexpedient to Legislate recommendation and was placed on the consent calendar.

On 2008-03-05, the full House voted to kill it by voice vote. This bill is dead.

HB1501, titled “an act relative to the penalty for certain sexual assault cases where the perpetrator is under 21 years of age,” is a bill that would downgrade the penalties for statutory rape for an actor under 21 to a class A misdemeanor.

We support this bill, as it would lessen the penalties against harmless teenage experimentation. We don’t believe it goes far enough—such people would still be forced to register as sex-offenders—but it’s a good start.

HB1133, titled “an act relative to the age of majority for purposes of pornography-related offenses,” is a bill to raise the age of consent with respect to pornography from 16 to 18.

What happens to the material already out there that is now being declared illegal? What happens to the people currently in possession of such material, if they don’t dispose of it?

There have been several cases of teenagers photographing each other and then falling afoul of “child pornography” laws. This bill makes it possible for such travesties of justice to occur for an even longer period of time.

We oppose this bill, as it will increase the number of harmless individuals being convicted of sex crimes and appearing on the public registry as offenders against children.

HB1294, titled “an act establishing the offense of public urination or defecation,” is a bill that would end public urination being treated as a registrable sex crime. Currently, a person caught urinating in public will most likely be charged with indecent exposure, a sex crime. This bill creates a new offense of public urination, separate from indecent exposure.

We support this bill, as it will prevent completely harmless people from being placed on the sex-offender registry.

By Dan Magazu, Manchester Daily Express (original article)

A proposal to restrict where registered sex offenders can live in Manchester was unanimously killed by a committee of aldermen on Tuesday following testimony from members of the police department.

The proposal would have restricted sex offenders from living near public areas in the city where children gather, such as schools, day care centers, churches, parks and libraries. It was being pushed by former Ward 4 Alderman Leo Pepino.

Several members of the police department were at the meeting to voice their opposition to the residency restriction ordinance, including Sgt. Scott Fuller, who spent 7 years in the juvenile division.

By Scott Brooks, New Hampshire Union Leader (original article)

MANCHESTER — Aldermen yesterday said no to a proposal that would have banned registered sex offenders from living near schools, parks and other places frequented by children.

The measure was unanimously rejected by the Public Safety, Health and Traffic Committee at the urging of the city’s police department. Deputy Police Chief Marc Lussier and officers in the juvenile division argued the restrictions would not prevent offenders from committing another crime, and could drive some offenders into homelessness.

“Having residency restrictions is not going to be the answer,” Sgt. Scott Fuller said.

Meeting agenda — Item #8. Information about this bill is no longer attached; see earlier agendas.

After lengthy testimony from Deputy Police Chief Marc Lussier and Sergeant Scott Fuller of the Manchester Police Department, who attended with two other police officers, followed by equally lengthy testimony by this bill’s still-sole supporter, former alderman Leo Pepino, the Committee finally voted to kill the bill, unanimously, once and for all.

We had created another information handout for the aldermen, briefly outlining everything that’s wrong with residency restrictions, which we distributed to them beforehand.

By Scott Brooks, New Hampshire Union Leader (original article)

MANCHESTER — City officials are girding for yet another debate over a proposal to ban registered sex offenders from living near schools, parks and other places in Manchester.

The measure is expected to go before the Committee on Public Safety, Health and Traffic tomorrow afternoon. Its lead proponent, former alderman Leo Pepino, said he plans to answer critics who dismiss the proposal as nothing more than “feel good legislation.”

“I mean, come on,” Pepino said. “Of course it’s ‘feel good’ legislation. It’s for the kids.”

By Dan Magazu, Manchester Daily Express (original article)

City officials prepare to discuss proposal again this week

Former alderman Leo Pepino continues to pressure city officials to copy a few other New Hampshire communities by establishing residency requirements for registered sex offenders.

Pepino’s proposal would restrict sex offenders from living near public areas in the city where children gather, such as schools, day care centers, churches, parks and libraries.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consider the proposal during a meeting on Tuesday.