House OKs tighter sex offender registration

The Oregon House voted unanimously Friday to pass HB 3253, a bill to require sex offenders from other states to register if tin Oregon.

“Nothing is more important than keeping our families safe,” said Rep. Jason Conger, R-Bend, one of two chief sponsors of the bill with Rep. Andy Olson, R – Albany, who carried the bill on the House floor. “This will strengthen our sex offender registration system.”

HB 3253 requires sex offenders who relocate to Oregon from other states to register in Oregon, even if their conviction is for a sex crime that does not fit into Oregon’s code.

“Without HB 3253, Oregon actually has an incentive for sex offenders to move here – to avoid registering,” Conger said in his floor speech. “It is common sense — if you are a registered sex offender in another state, you need to register if you want to live in Oregon.”

HB 3253 now moves to the Senate for consideration.