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Politics

County: Add elderly to bill

Officials want sex offenders to live away from seniors.

By BILL VARIAN
Published March 8, 2007

TAMPA - Hillsborough County commissioners want to expand residency restrictions for sexual predators to protect another vulnerable group - the elderly.

The commission, which in recent weeks has been moving toward banning sexual predators from going places that children congregate, is crafting an ordinance that would ban them from living in or near senior-designated communities. The law would apply to such places as Sun City Center in southern Hillsborough and John Knox Village, near the University of South Florida.

But the proposal goes a step further. It would require sexual predators placed in nursing homes or senior treatment facilities to declare their criminal status. The law also would require such facilities to continuously monitor designated predators and segregate them from the rest of the people living there.

Violations of any part of the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail.

"These type of facilities house some of the most vulnerable citizens who can't fend for themselves," said commission Chairman Jim Norman, who is pushing the initiative.

Commissioners voted unanimously to craft the ordinance and take it to a public hearing. Attorneys for the county will now work on finalizing the draft proposal.

While many states and local governments have approved residency restrictions that ban some types of sex offenders from living near schools and other places frequented by children, few have passed similar restrictions dealing with proximity to the elderly.

The county attorney's office found one other local government that has passed a similar ordinance, Chelsea, Mass., though some state legislatures are currently considering protection zones for the aged.

Tom Vann, president of the John Knox Village Residents' Association, praised commissioners for taking up the issue.

"I am pleased that you are working to come up with an ordinance that would protect our senior citizens from sexual predators," he said.

Under Norman's proposal, senior residential communities like John Knox Village would need to apply to have the restriction put in place. Norman estimates only six to eight communities in Hillsborough County would qualify.

The proposed rules for sexual predators in nursing homes would not be voluntary.

Bill Varian can be reached at 813 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 8, 2007, 05:59:19]