Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Sex Offender Residency Restrictions Near Schools

This bill would make it a felony crime for anyone required to register as a sex offender in Rhode Island to live within 300 feet of a school. Under current law, there are restrictions on where registered sex offenders can be, but this bill specifically creates a criminal penalty — at the felony level — for living that close to a school. The 300-foot distance is roughly the length of a football field.

The bill affects people who are already on Rhode Island's sex offender registry. If a registered sex offender currently lives within 300 feet of a school, or moves to a location within that distance in the future, they could face felony charges. A felony conviction typically carries more serious consequences than a misdemeanor, including the possibility of prison time and a permanent criminal record.

Schools affected are defined under Rhode Island's existing sex offender registration law (§ 11-37.1-2), which generally includes public and private elementary and secondary schools. Families living near schools would not be directly affected by this bill, as it applies only to individuals on the sex offender registry. The bill has passed the Senate and is currently being considered by the House Judiciary Committee.