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H.Con.Res.196 / 104th Congress

Expressing the sense of the Congress that each State should enact legislation regarding notification procedures necessary when a sexually violent offender is released.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 10, 1996

Requires each State to establish an Advisory Board for Risk Assessment which shall comply with the requirements and guidelines regarding notification and release of sexually violent offenders established for a State board under the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act and under this Act. Directs: (1) the Chief Executive Officer of each State (CEO) to develop guidelines and procedures for use by the Board to assess the risk of a repeat offense by such an offender and the threat posed to the public safety; and (2) any State or local correctional facility, hospital, or institution to forward relevant information pertaining to a sex offender to be discharged, paroled, or released to the Board for review prior to the release (and provides for the confidentiality of records so provided, with exceptions). Requires the Board: (1) prior to the discharge, to make a confidential recommendation to the sentencing court as to whether such offender warrants the designation of sexually violent predator; and (2) to use the guidelines established to recommend to the sentencing court one of three levels of notification. Directs the sentencing court to: (1) make a determination of whether an offender is a sex offender or a sexually violent predator before the release of such offender; (2) make a determination regarding the level of notification after receiving a tier recommendation from the Board; and (3) upon the reversal of a conviction of a sexual offense, order the expungement of any records required to be kept pursuant to this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) petitions for relief from the duty to register; (2) penalties for misuse of registration information; (3) juvenile offenders; (4) official immunity from liability; and (5) exclusion of the victim's identity from public access or dissemination. Requires: (1) each CEO to establish reasonable notification requirements; and (2) the department required to coordinate the sex offender registration program to compile and update offender information.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Gutknecht, Gil [R-MN-1] · R–MN

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.196 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.196 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.196 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.196 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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