2026 -- H 8064

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LC005629

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND

COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Read, Noret, Corvese, Fascia, Serpa, Casey, Spears,
Solomon, Hopkins, and Santucci

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-37.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-37.1 entitled "Sexual

Offender Registration and Community Notification" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-37.1-4. Duration of registration — Frequency of registration.

     (a) Annual registration. Any person required to register under § 11-37.1-3(a)(1), or (2), or

(9) shall annually register with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city

or town in which the person having the duty to register resides for a period of ten (10) years from

the expiration of sentence for the offense and shall verify his or her address with the agency on a

quarterly basis for the first two (2) years of the period unless the person has been determined to be

a sexually violent predator in accordance with § 11-37.1-6 or unless the person is required to

register for the life of that person in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

     (b) Sexually violent predators. Any person who has been determined to be a sexually

violent predator in accordance with the provisions of § 11-37.1-6 shall be required to annually

register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town

in which the person having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his

or her address on a quarterly basis for the life of that person.

     (c) Recidivists and aggravated crime offenders. Any person required to register under § 11-

37.1-3 and who has one or more prior convictions for any offense described in § 11-37.1-2 or has

been convicted of an aggravated offense as defined in § 11-37.1-2 shall annually register in person

with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person

having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his or her address on a

quarterly basis for the life of that person.

     (d) Nonresident workers and students. Any nonresident person required to register pursuant

to § 11-37.1-3(b)(1) or (2) shall annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency

having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register is employed

or attends a public or private educational institution for the period of time that the person is

employed in Rhode Island or is attending a public or private educational institution in Rhode Island.

     (e) Initial registration; Incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under this

chapter who are sentenced to a period of confinement shall perform their initial registration by

appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person

intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their release from confinement.

     (f) Initial registration; Non-incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under

this chapter who are convicted in Rhode Island and who are not sentenced to serve a term of

incarceration or confinement shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the

local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within

twenty-four (24) hours of being sentenced.

     (g) Initial registration; Individuals relocating to Rhode Island. All persons required to

register under this chapter who are moving their residence to Rhode Island from another jurisdiction

shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency

in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their

arrival in Rhode Island.

     (h) Initial registration; Nonresident workers and students. All nonresident workers or

students who are required to register under this chapter shall perform their initial registration by

appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person is

employed or is attending a public or private educational institution within twenty-four (24) hours

of their first day of their personal attendance at their place of employment or a public or private

educational institution.

     (i) Tolling provision. Where, during the period in which any person is required to register,

a person required to register under this chapter is incarcerated or re-incarcerated for any offense or

is civilly committed, the person’s registration requirements shall be tolled during the subsequent

incarceration, re-incarceration or commitment.

     (j) Juveniles. Any juvenile having the duty to register under subsections (b) and (c) of this

section shall be required to annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency

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having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the juvenile having the duty to register resides

for fifteen (15) years subsequent to the date of release from confinement or placement in the

community or probation for such offense or offenses and to verify his or her address on a quarterly

basis for said fifteen (15) years. However, if a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent under § 11-37-8.1

or 11-37-8.3, the court shall assess the totality of the circumstances of the offense and if the court

makes a finding that the conduct of the parties is criminal only because of the age of the victim, the

court may have discretion to order the juvenile to register as a sex offender as long as the court

deems it appropriate to protect the community and to rehabilitate the juvenile offender. Registration

shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

     (k) Annual registration for federal, foreign, or military offenses. Any person who is

required to register under this chapter due to a conviction of a federal offense, a foreign offense, or

a military offense shall register for the duration and frequency in the same manner as if the offense

were committed within Rhode Island.

     (l) Homeless persons. In addition to the other requirements of this section, a person who is

required to register under this chapter and is homeless shall verify their presence in the community

with the local law enforcement agency where they are required to register three (3) times a week

for the duration of their being homeless.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND

COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

***

     This act would provide that violations of § 11-37.1-10 relating to failing to register as a sex

offender are subject to the duration and frequency of registrations pursuant to § 11-37.1-4.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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