SB 700 - This act increases punishment for felony and sex offenders and contains three major provisions: 1) increases the authorized prison terms for Class A, B and C felonies; 2) imposes a life sentence, with the possibility of parole, for sex offenders who are found by the court to be "predatory sexual offenders;" and 3) makes registration information submitted by sex offenders open for public inspection.

INCREASE IN PRISON SENTENCES FOR FELONIES - Class A felonies are currently punishable by a term of ten to thirty years or life. Under this act, the term would be increased to fifteen to thirty-five years or life.

Sentences for Class B felonies are increased from a range of five to fifteen years to a range of seven to twenty years.

Under this act, sentences for Class C felonies would be punishable by a term of at least three years and at most ten years rather than by a maximum of seven years, with no minimum, under current law.

LIFE SENTENCES FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS - This act authorizes life sentences, with the possibility of parole, for those sex offenders who are found to be "predatory sexual offenders." An offender who is convicted of rape, sodomy, child molestation, or child abuse may be found to be a predatory sexual offender if such offender: 1) has been previously convicted of one of these offenses; or 2) has previously committed an act constituting such an offense, even if not convicted; or 3) is found to have a "sexually predatory propensity" based upon an evaluation by the Department of Mental Health.

If the court finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant is a predatory sexual offender, the court shall sentence the defendant to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. If the court does not find that the defendant is a predatory sexual offender, the court shall sentence the defendant under the criminal statutes that apply to the defendant's crime.

This portion of the act is similar to SB 547.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION - This act requires the chief law enforcement official of each county to maintain a registry of all persons who register as sexual offenders. This registry shall be open for public inspection.

Any person who gives false information when registering with police is guilty of a Class D felony.
JAMES KLAHR