Relating to the appeal process for individuals required to register on the sex offenders list for life

HB 3316 allows individuals convicted of misdemeanor sexual abuse in the third degree (under §61-8B-9) to petition courts for removal from the public sex offender registry after meeting specific criteria. To qualify, petitioners must wait at least 10 years after release, complete all supervision and sex offender treatment, have no new offenses requiring registration, and provide a risk assessment from a qualified professional. The court must notify victims, victim advocates, and prosecutors before deciding, and consider victim input during hearings. If approved, the individual’s name is removed from public records; if denied, they cannot reapply for 10 years. This applies only to misdemeanor cases, not felony sex offenses.