Bill to Ban on Sex Offenders Near Child Care Fails

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A bill that would have banned sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of child care facilities has been voted down in a Wyoming legislative committee.

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon voted 7-to-2 against the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. John Eklund of Cheyenne.

Rep. Stephen Watt is a Rock Springs Republican and former law enforcement officer. Watt spoke against the bill in committee. Watt says that although he doesn't like sex offenders, he has a problem with the state imposing continuing punishment on them after they've served their prison time.

Linda Burt with the American Civil Liberties Union in Wyoming spoke against the bill, saying it threatened to leave offenders with nowhere to live in many communities.