An act to add Section 290.8 to the Penal Code, relating to sex offenses. This bill would additionally require the Department of Justice to establish and maintain a publicly accessible Internet directory of information relating to registered sex offenders who are convicted of specified offenses on or after January 1, 1998. The bill would provide for enhanced punishment for any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to this provision to commit an offense. By establishing a new sentence enhancement, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. The Attorney General may determine the extent of information and the priority of persons to be included in the directory. The department shall keep confidential, and not enter into the directory, information regarding any person for which the Attorney General has determined that disclosure pursuant to this section would endanger the safety of a person involved in an investigation or the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation. Any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to this section to commit a felony shall be punished, in addition and consecutive to any other punishment, by a five-year term of imprisonment in the state prison. Notwithstanding Section 17580 of the Government Code, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of this act shall become operative on the same date that the act takes effect pursuant to the California Constitution.