State senators refused to make it easier for a limited number of people to escape requirements to register as sex offenders amid concerns from some lawmakers that they have been prevented from voting on separate legislation to give victims of child sex abuse more time to sue their assailants.
On paper, HB 2613 deals only with those who were younger than 21 at the time they were arrested for offering to have sex with a teen ages 15, 16 or 17 who turned out to be a police officer. It says if there were no other offenses, the convicted person can ask a judge to remove the requirement to register as a sex offender when they turn 35.
But the proposal by House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, drew angry reaction from some lawmakers who questioned why they were being urged to help sex offenders — even those in these limited situations — while children who don’t realize they’ve been victimized are barred by Arizona law from bringing civil actions once they turn 20.
[FAC COMMENT: IT SEEMS THERE’S AN EASY FIX TO THIS.. INTRODUCE A NEW BILL NEXT YEAR THAT CONTAINS BOTH ELEMENTS. THIS WAY EVERYONE IS TREATED JUSTLY AND FAIRLY]
Can someone explain to me how any of this is fair when age limits are placed on the registrant instead of time limits and they want to bypass traditional tort law by providing what seems to be a unlimited amount of time for the victim to sue.