Idaho Legislation coming up

House committee considers sex offender laws

Associated Press - January 21, 2008 9:44 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - State lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a felony for anyone to harbor a violent sexual predator trying to elude authorities.

But several lawmakers on the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee say they fear the measure, as written, could make felons out of anybody, including a family member who doesn't volunteer information to police - even if police never ask for the information.

The committee also considered two other measures regarding sex offenders today.

One would touch up language in Idaho's 2-year-old law barring sex offenders from being within 500 feet of school property. The lawmakers plan to add exemptions for offenders who have to visit schools to vote or to pick up their mail.

The other would formalize a 2007 Department of Corrections policy for monitoring violent sex offenders with electronic bracelets