MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2007 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B

By: Senator(s) Tollison

Senate Bill 2668

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION LAW TO CONFORM THE FEDERAL ADAM WALSH ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE A CONVICTION IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AS A REGISTRABLE SEX OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY REPORTING OF RESIDENCY, TO REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF PALM PRINTS IN ADDITION TO FINGERPRINTS, AND TO REQUIRE REGISTRATION UPON A SINGLE ADJUDICATION OF DELINQUENCY FOR A SEX OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE WHEN THE DUTY TO REGISTER SHALL ATTACH; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE CHANGE OF NAME AS A REPORTABLE EVENT; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A CURRENT PHOTOGRAPH ON EVERY REREGISTRATION; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-33, 45-33-34, 45-33-35, 45-33-41 AND 45-33-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE KIDNAPPING OF A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AS A REGISTRABLE OFFENSE AND TO REVISE RELIEF FROM THE DUTY TO REGISTER FOR THOSE CONVICTED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE EMPLOYER TO BE IN WRITING; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE REGISTRATION AS A SEX OFFENDER AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF A SEX OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 45-35-3 AND 63-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SEX OFFENDERS TO OBTAIN A NEW DRIVER'S LICENSE, PERMIT OR NONDRIVER'S IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT IDENTIFIES THE INDIVIDUAL AS A SEX OFFENDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 45-33-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-23.  For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Conviction" shall mean that, regarding the person's offense, there has been a determination or judgment of guilt as a result of a trialor the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere regardless of whether adjudication is withheld.  "Conviction of similar offenses" includes, but is not limited to, a conviction by a federal or military tribunal, including a court martial conducted by the Armed Forces of the United States, a conviction for an offense committed on an Indian Reservation or other federal property, * * * a conviction in any state of the United States and a conviction in a foreign country if the foreign country's judicial system is such that it satisfies minimum due process set forth in the guidelines under Section 111(5)(B) Public Law 109-28.

          (b)  "Jurisdiction" shall mean any state court, federal court, military court, Indian tribunal or foreign court.

          (c)  "Permanent residence" is defined as a place where the person abides, lodges, or resides for a period of fourteen (14) or more consecutive days.

          (d)  "Registration" means providing information to the appropriate agency within the time frame specified as required by this chapter.

          (e)  "Registration duties" means obtaining the registration information required on the form specified by the department as well as the photograph, fingerprints and biological sample of the registrant.  Biological samples are to be forwarded to the State Crime Laboratory pursuant to Section 45-33-37; the photograph, fingerprints and other registration information are to be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety within ten (10) days of registration.

          (f)  "Responsible agency" is defined as the person or government entity whose duty it is to obtain information from a criminal sex offender upon conviction and to transmit that information to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

              (i)  For a criminal sex offender being released from the custody of the Department of Corrections, the responsible agency is the Department of Corrections.

              (ii)  For a criminal sex offender being released from a county jail, the responsible agency is the sheriff of that county.

              (iii)  For a criminal sex offender being released from a municipal jail, the responsible agency is the police department of that municipality.

              (iv)  For a sex offender in the custody of youth court, the responsible agency is the youth court.

              (v)  For a criminal sex offender who is being placed on probation, including conditional discharge or unconditional discharge, without any sentence of incarceration, the responsible agency is the sentencing court.

              (vi)  For an offender who has been committed to a mental institution following an acquittal by reason of insanity, the responsible agency is the facility from which the offender is released.  Specifically, the director of said facility shall notify the Department of Public Safety prior to the offender's release.

              (vii)  For a criminal sex offender who is being released from a jurisdiction outside this state or who has a prior conviction in another state and who is to reside in this state, the responsible agency is the Department of Public Safety.

          (g)  "Sex offense" means any of the following offenses:

              (i)  Section 97-3-53 relating to kidnapping, if the victim was below the age of eighteen (18);

              (ii)  Section 97-3-65 relating to rape; however, conviction or adjudication under Section 97-3-65(1)(a) on or after July 1, 1998, when the offender was eighteen (18) years of age or younger at the time of the alleged offense, shall not be a registrable sex offense;

              (iii)  Section 97-3-71 relating to rape and assault with intent to ravish;

              (iv)  Section 97-3-95 relating to sexual battery; however, conviction or adjudication under Section 97-3-95(1)(c) on or after July 1, 1998, when the offender was eighteen (18) years of age or younger at the time of the alleged offense, shall not be a registrable sex offense;

              (v)  Section 97-5-5 relating to enticing child for concealment, prostitution or marriage;

              (vi)  Section 97-5-23 relating to the touching of a child, mentally defective or incapacitated person or physically helpless person for lustful purposes;

               (vii)  Section 97-5-27 relating to the dissemination of sexually oriented material to children;

              (viii)  Section 97-5-33 relating to the exploitation of children;

              (ix)  Section 97-5-41 relating to the carnal knowledge of a stepchild, adopted child or child of a cohabiting partner;

              (x)  Section 97-29-59 relating to unnatural intercourse;

              (xi)  Section 97-1-7 relating to attempt to commit any of the above-referenced offenses;

              (xii)  Section 97-29-3 relating to adultery or fornication between teacher and pupil;

              (xiii)  Section 43-47-18 relating to sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult;

              (xiv)  Section 97-3-54.1(1)(c) relating to procuring sexual servitude of a minor;

              (xv)  Section 97-29-63, relating to filming another without permission where there is an expectation of privacy;

              (xvi)  Any other offense resulting in a conviction in another jurisdiction * * * which, if committed in this state, would be deemed to be such a crime without regard to its designation elsewhere;

              (xvii)  Any offense resulting in a conviction in another jurisdiction * * * for which registration is required in the jurisdiction where the conviction was had;

              (xviii)  Any conviction of conspiracy to commit, accessory to commission, or attempt to commit any offense listed in this section.

          (h)  "Temporary residence" is defined as a place where the person abides, lodges, or resides for a period of fourteen (14) or more days in the aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person's permanent address; for a person whose permanent residence is not in this state, the place where the person is employed, practices a vocation, or is enrolled as a student for any period of time in the state; or a place where a person routinely abides, lodges or resides for a period of four (4) or more consecutive or nonconsecutive days in any month and which is not the person's permanent residence.

          (i)  "Department" unless otherwise specified is defined as the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

     SECTION 2.  Section 45-33-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-25.  (1)  Any person having a permanent or temporary residence in this state who has been convicted of any sex offense or attempted sex offense or who has been acquitted by reason of insanity for any sex offense or attempted sex offense or * * *adjudicated delinquent for any sex offense or attempted sex offense shall register with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.  Registration shall not be required for an offense that is not a registrable sex offense or for an offender who is under fourteen (14) years of age.  The department shall provide the initial registration information as well as every change of address to the sheriff of the county of the residence address of the registrant through either written notice, electronic or telephone transmissions, or online access to registration information.  Further, the department shall provide this information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Additionally, upon notification by the registrant that he intends to reside outside the State of Mississippi, the department shall notify the appropriate state law enforcement agency of any state to which a registrant is moving or has moved.

     (2)  Any person required to register under this chapter shall submit the following information at the time of registration:

          (a)  Name, including a former name which has been legally changed;

          (b)  Street address of all current permanent * * * and * * * temporary residences within state or out of state;

          (c)  Date, place and address of employment;

          (d)  Crime for which convicted;

          (e)  Date and place of conviction, adjudication or acquittal by reason of insanity;

          (f)  Aliases used;

          (g)  Social security number;

          (h)  Date and place of birth;

          (i)  Age, race, sex, height, weight, and hair and eye colors;

          (j)  A brief description of the offense or offenses for which the registration is required;

          (k)  Identifying factors;

          (l)  Anticipated future residence;

          (m)  If the registrant's residence is a motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home or manufactured home, the registrant shall also provide vehicle identification number, license tag number, registration number and a description, including color scheme, of the motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home or manufactured home; if the registrant's place of residence is a vessel or houseboat, the registrant shall also provide the hull identification number, manufacturer's serial number, name of the vessel or houseboat, registration number and a description, including color scheme, of the vessel or houseboat;

          (n)  Vehicle make, model, color and license tag number;

          (o)  Offense history;

          (p)  Photograph;

          (q)  Fingerprints and palm prints;

          (r)  Documentation of any treatment received for any mental abnormality or personality disorder of the person;

          (s)  Biological sample;

          (t)  Name of any public or private educational institution, including any secondary school, trade or professional institution or institution of higher education at which the offender is employed, carries on a vocation (with or without compensation) or is enrolled as a student, and the registrant's status;

          (u)  Copy of conviction or sentencing order for the sex offense for which registration is required; * * *

          (v)  The offender's parole, probation or supervised release status and the existence of any outstanding arrest warrants; and

          (w)  Any other information deemed necessary.

     (3)  For purposes of this chapter, a person is considered to be residing in this state if he maintains a permanent or temporary residence as defined in Section 45-33-23, including students, temporary employees and military personnel on assignment.

     (4)  (a)  A person required to register under this chapter shall not reside within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of the real property comprising a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school or a child care facility.

          (b)  A person residing within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of the real property comprising a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school or a child care facility does not commit a violation of this subsection if any of the following apply:

              (i)  The person is serving a sentence at a jail, prison, juvenile facility or other correctional institution or facility.

              (ii)  The person is subject to an order of commitment under Title 41, Mississippi Code of 1972.

              (iii)  The person established the subject residence prior to July 1, 2006, or the school or child care facility is located within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of the school or child care facility subsequent to the date the person established residency.

              (iv)  The person is a minor or a ward under a guardianship.

     SECTION 3.  Section 45-33-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-27.  (1)  A person required to register on the basis of a conviction, adjudication of delinquency or acquittal by reason of insanity entered shall register with the responsible agency within three (3) business days of the date of judgment unless the person is immediately confined or committed, in which case the person shall register before release in accordance with the procedures established by the department.  The person is also required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within ten (10) days of registration with the responsible agency and to obtain a sex offender registration card.

     (2)  If a person who is required to register under this section is released from prison or placed on parole or supervised release or in a restitution center or community work center, the Department of Corrections shall perform the registration duties before placement in a center or before release and forward the registration information to the Department of Public Safety within ten (10) days.  The person is also required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within ten (10) days of release or placement in a restitution center or community work center.

     (3)  If a person required to register under this section is placed on probation, the court, at the time of entering the order, shall register the person * * * and forward the registration information to the Department of Public Safety within ten (10) days.  The person is also required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within ten (10) days of the entry of the order.

     (4)  Any person required to register who is neither incarcerated, detained nor committed at the time the requirement to register attaches shall present himself to the county sheriff to register within three (3) business days, and shall * * * personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within ten (10) days of the time the requirement to register attaches.

     (5)  An offender moving to or returning to this state from another jurisdiction shall notify the Department of Public Safety ten (10) days before the person first resides in or returns to * * *this state and shall * * * present himself to the sheriff of the county of his residence within three (3) business days after first residing in or returning to a county of this state to provide the required registration information.  The person is also required to register by personally appearing at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within ten (10) days after first residing in or moving to a county of this state.

     (6)  A person, other than a person confined in a correctional or juvenile detention facility or involuntarily committed on the basis of mental illness, who is required to register on the basis of a sex offense for which a conviction, adjudication of delinquency or acquittal by reason of insanity was entered prior to July 1, 1995, shall register with the sheriff of the county in which he resides no later than August 15, 2000.

     (7)  Every person required to register shall show proof of domicile * * *.  The commissioner shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to enforce this requirement and shall prescribe the means by which such person may show domicile * * *.

     (8)  Any driver's license photograph, I.D. photograph, sex offender photograph, finger print, driver's license application and/or anything submitted to the Department of Public Safety by a known convicted sex offender, registered or not registered, can be used by the Department of Public Safety or any other authorized law enforcement agency for any means necessary in registration, identification, investigation regarding their tracking or identification.

     SECTION 4.  Section 45-33-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-29.  (1)  Upon any change of address, an offender required to register under this chapter is required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station not less than ten (10) days before he intends to first reside at the new address.

     (2)  Upon any change in the status of a registrant's enrollment, employment or vocation at any public or private educational institution, including any secondary school, trade or professional institution or institution of higher education, the offender is required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within three (3) business days of the change.

     (3)  Upon any change of name, a registrant is required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within three (3) business days of the change.

     SECTION 5.  Section 45-33-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-31. All registrants are required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station to reregister every ninety (90) days.  Reregistration includes the submission of current information and photograph to the department and the verification of registration information, including the street address and telephone number of the registrant; name, street address and telephone number of the registrant's employment along with any other registration information that may need to be verified and the payment of any required fees.  A person who fails to reregister and obtain a renewal sex offender registration card as required by this section commits a violation of this chapter.

     SECTION 6.  Section 45-33-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-33.  (1)  (a)  The failure of an offender to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station  or to provide any registration or other information, including, but not limited to, initial registration, reregistration or change of address information, change of name or required notification to a volunteer organization, as required by this chapter, is a violation of the law.  Additionally, forgery of information or submission of information under false pretenses is also a violation of the law.

          (b)  A person commits a violation of this chapter who:

              (i)  Knowingly harbors, or knowingly attempts to harbor, or knowingly assists another person in harboring or attempting to harbor a sex offender who is in violation of this chapter; or

              (ii)  Knowingly assists a sex offender in eluding a law enforcement agency that is seeking to find the sex offender to question the sex offender about, or to arrest the sex offender for, noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter; or

              (iii)  Provides information to a law enforcement agency regarding a sex offender which the person knows to be false.

     (2)  Unless otherwise specified, a violation of this chapter shall be considered a felony and shall be punishable by a fine not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not more than five (5) years, or both fine and imprisonment.

     (3)  Whenever it appears that an offender has failed to comply with the duty to register or reregister, the department shall promptly notify the sheriff of the county of the last known address of the offender.  Upon notification, the sheriff shall attempt to locate the offender at his last known address.

          (a)  If the sheriff locates the offender, he shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.  The sheriff shall then notify the department with the current information regarding the offender.

          (b)  If the sheriff is unable to locate the offender, the sheriff shall promptly notify the department and initiate a criminal prosecution against the offender for the failure to register or reregister.  The sheriff shall make the appropriate transactions into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's wanted-person database.

     (4)  A first violation of this chapter may result in the arrest of the offender.  Upon any second or subsequent violation of this chapter, the offender shall be arrested for the violation.

     (5)  Any prosecution for a violation of this section shall be brought by a prosecutor in the county of the violation.

     (6)  A person required to register under this chapter who commits any act or omission in violation of this chapter may be prosecuted for the act or omission in the county in which the act or omission was committed, the county of the last registered address of the sex offender, the county in which the conviction occurred for the offense or offenses that meet the criteria requiring the person to register, or in the county in which he was designated a sex offender.

     (7)  The Commissioner of Public Safety or his authorized agent shall suspend the driver's license or driving privilege of any offender failing to comply with the duty to report, register or reregister.

     SECTION 7.  Section 45-33-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-34.  (1) * * *  The county sheriff shall notify the department when a registered sex offender is reincarcerated for another offense or as the result of having violated probation, parole, conditional discharge or other sentence or court order.

     (2) * * *  The offender, offender's guardian, offender's conservator or the administrator of the institution shall notify the department when a registered sex offender is committed to a mental institution for a reason other than the initial confinement following an acquittal by reason of insanity for a sex offense.

     SECTION 8.  Section 45-33-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-35.  (1)  The Mississippi Department of Public Safety shall maintain a central registry of sex offender information as defined in Section 45-33-25 and shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out this section.  The responsible agencies shall provide the information required in Section 45-33-25 on a form developed by the department to ensure accurate information is maintained.

     (2)  Upon conviction, adjudication or acquittal by reason of insanity of any sex offender, if the sex offender is not immediately confined or not sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the clerk of the court which convicted and sentenced the sex offender shall inform the person of the duty to register, including the duty to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station, and shall perform the registration duties as described in Section 45-33-23 and forward the information to the department.

     (3)  Before release from prison or placement on parole, supervised release or in a work center or restitution center, the Department of Corrections shall inform the person of the duty to register, including the duty to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station, and shall perform the registration duties as described in Section 45-33-23 and forward the information to the Department of Public Safety.

     (4)  Before release from confinement in a mental institution following an acquittal by reason of insanity, the director of the facility shall inform the offender of the duty to register, including the duty to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station, and shall notify the Department of Public Safety of the offender's release.

     (5)  Before release from a youthful offender facility, the director of the facility shall inform the person of the duty to register, including the duty to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station, and shall perform the registration duties as described in Section 45-33-23 and forward the information to the Department of Public Safety.

     (6)  In addition to performing the registration duties, the responsible agency shall:

          (a)  Inform the person having a duty to register that:

              (i)  The person is required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station at least ten (10) days before changing address.

              (ii)  Any change of address to another state shall be reported to the department by personally appearing at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station not less than ten (10) days before the change of address.  The offender shall comply with any registration requirement in the new state.

              (iii)  The person must register in any state where the person is employed, carries on a vocation, is stationed in the military or is a student.

              (iv) * * *  Address verifications shall be * * * made by personally appearing at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within the required time period.

              (v)  Notification or verification of a change in status of a registrant's enrollment, employment or vocation at any public or private educational institution, including any secondary school, trade or professional institution, or institution of higher education shall be reported to the department by personally appearing at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within three (3) business days of the change.

              (vi)  If the person has been convicted of a sex offense, the person shall notify any organization for which the person volunteers in which volunteers have direct, private or unsupervised contact with minors that the person has been convicted of a sex offense as provided in Section 45-33-32(1).

              (vii)  Upon any change of name, a registrant is required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver's License Station within three (3) business days of the change.

          (b)  Require the person to read and sign a form stating that the duty of the person to register under this chapter has been explained.

          (c)  Obtain or facilitate the obtaining of a biological sample from every registrant as required by this chapter if such biological sample has not already been provided to the Mississippi Crime Lab.

          (d)  Provide a copy of the order of conviction or sentencing order to the department at the time of registration.

     SECTION 9.  Section 45-33-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-41.  (1)  The Department of Corrections or any person having charge of a county or municipal jail or any juvenile detention facility shall provide written notification to an inmate or offender in the custody of the jail or other facility due to a conviction of or adjudication for a sex offense of the registration and notification requirements of Sections 45-33-25, 45-33-31 and 45-33-32 at the time of the inmate's or offender's confinement and release from confinement, and shall receive a signed acknowledgment of receipt on both occasions.

     (2)  At least ten (10) days prior to the inmate's release from confinement, the Department of Corrections shall notify the victim of the offense or a designee of the immediate family of the victim regarding the date when the offender's release shall occur, provided a current address of the victim or designated family member has been furnished in writing to the Director of Records for such purpose.

     SECTION 10.  Section 45-33-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-43.  At the time a person surrenders a driver's license from another jurisdiction or makes an application for a driver's license, the department shall provide the applicant with written information on the registration requirements of this chapter.

     SECTION 11.  Section 45-33-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     [For offenders convicted of a sex offense committed before July 1, 2007, this section shall read as follows:]

     45-33-47.  (1)  A sex offender with a duty to register under Section 45-33-25 shall only be relieved of the duty under subsection (2) of this section.

     (2)  A person having a duty to register under Section 45-33-25 may petition the circuit court of the sentencing jurisdiction, or for a person whose duty to register arose in another jurisdiction, the county in which the registrant resides, to be relieved of that duty under the following conditions:

          (a)  The offender has maintained his registration in Mississippi for not less than ten (10) years from the most recent date of occurrence of at least one (1) of the following:  release from prison, placement on parole, supervised release or probation.  Incarceration for any offense will restart the ten-year minimum registration requirement.  Registration in any other jurisdiction * * * does not reduce the ten-year time requirement for maintaining registration in Mississippi.

          (b)  If the offender has been convicted of one (1) of the following offenses, the offender is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be relieved of the duty to register:

              (i)  Section 97-3-65 relating to rape;

              (ii)  Section 97-3-71 relating to rape and assault with intent to ravish;

              (iii)  Section 97-3-95 relating to sexual battery;

              (iv)  Subsection (1) or (2) of Section 97-5-33 relating to the exploitation of children;

              (v)  Section 97-5-41 relating to the carnal knowledge of a stepchild, adopted child or child of a cohabiting partner; * * *

              (vi)  Section 97-3-53 relating to kidnapping if the victim is under the age of eighteen (18);

              (vii)  Section 97-3-54.1(1)(c) relating to procuring sexual servitude of a minor;

              (viii)  Section 43-47-18 relating to sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult; or

              (ix)  Any conviction for violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction or designation as a sexual predator in another jurisdiction.

          (c)  An offender who has two (2) separate convictions for any of the offenses described in Section 45-33-23 is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be eligible to petition to be relieved of the duty to register as long as at least one (1) of the convictions was entered on or after July 1, 1995.

          (d)  An offender, twenty-one (21) years of age or older, who is convicted of any sex offense where the victim was fourteen (14) years of age or younger shall be subject to lifetime registration and shall not be relieved of the duty to register.

          (e)  An offender * * * adjudicated delinquent in a youth court for the crime of rape pursuant to Section 96-3-65 or sexual battery pursuant to Section 97-3-95 is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be eligible to petition to be relieved of the duty to register.

          (f)  Registration following arrest or arraignment for failure to register is not a defense and does not relieve the sex offender of criminal liability for failure to register.

          (g)  The department shall continue to list in the registry the name and registration information of all registrants who no longer work, reside or attend school in this state even after the registrant moves to another jurisdiction and registers in the new jurisdiction as required by law.  The registry shall note that the registrant moved out of state.

     (3)  In determining whether to release an offender from the obligation to register, the court shall consider the nature of the registrable offense committed and the criminal and relevant noncriminal behavior of the petitioner both before and after conviction.  The court may relieve the offender of the duty to register only if the petitioner shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that the registrant properly maintained his registration as required by law and that future registration of the petitioner will not serve the purposes of this chapter and the court is otherwise satisfied that the petitioner is not a current or potential threat to public safety.  The district attorney in the circuit in which the petition is filed must be given notice of the petition at least three (3) weeks before the hearing on the matter.  The district attorney may present evidence in opposition to the requested relief or may otherwise demonstrate the reasons why the petition should be denied.  If the court denies the petition, the petitioner may not again petition the court for relief until one (1) year has elapsed unless the court orders otherwise in its order of denial of relief.

     (4)  The offender will be required to continue registration for any sex offense conviction unless the conviction is set aside in any post-conviction proceeding, the offender receives a pardon, the charge is dismissed or the offender has received a court order pursuant to this section relieving him of the duty to register.  Upon submission of the appropriate documentation to the department of one (1) of these occurrences, registration duties will be discontinued.

     [For sex offenders convicted of a sex offense committed on or after July 1, 2007, this section shall read as follows:]

     45-33-47.  (1)  A sex offender with a duty to register under Section 45-33-25 shall only be relieved of the duty under subsection (2) of this section.

     (2)  A person having a duty to register under Section 45-33-25 may petition the circuit court of the sentencing jurisdiction, or for a person whose duty to register arose in another jurisdiction, the county in which the registrant resides, to be relieved of that duty under the following conditions:

          (a)  The offender has maintained his registration in Mississippi for not less than twenty-five (25) years from the most recent date of occurrence of at least one (1) of the following:  release from prison, placement on parole, supervised release or probation.  Incarceration for any offense will restart the twenty-five-year minimum registration requirement.  Registration in any other jurisdiction * * *does not reduce the twenty-five-year time requirement for maintaining registration in Mississippi.

          (b)  If the offender has been convicted of one (1) of the following offenses, the offender is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be relieved of the duty to register:

              (i)  Section 97-3-65 relating to rape;

              (ii)  Section 97-3-71 relating to rape and assault with intent to ravish;

              (iii)  Section 97-3-95 relating to sexual battery;

              (iv)  Subsection (1) or (2) of Section 97-5-33 relating to the exploitation of children;

              (v)  Section 97-5-41 relating to the carnal knowledge of a stepchild, adopted child or child of a cohabiting partner;

              (vi)  Section 97-3-53 relating to kidnapping if the victim is under the age of eighteen (18);

              (vii)  Section 97-3-54.1(1)(c) relating to procuring sexual servitude of a minor;

              (viii)  Section 43-47-18 relating to sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult; or

              (ix)  Any conviction for violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction or designation as a sexual predator in another jurisdiction.

          (c)  Notwithstanding another provision of this section, an offender may petition the appropriate circuit court to be relieved of the duty to register upon fifteen (15) years satisfaction of the requirements of this section for a conviction of misdemeanor dissemination of sexually oriented material to children, Section 97-5-27(1).

          (d)  An offender who has two (2) separate convictions for any of the offenses described in Section 45-33-23 is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be eligible to petition to be relieved of the duty to register as long as at least one (1) of the convictions was entered on or after July 1, 1995.

          (e)  An offender, twenty-one (21) years of age or older, who is convicted of any sex offense where the victim was fourteen (14) years of age or younger shall be subject to lifetime registration and shall not be relieved of the duty to register.

          (f)  An offender adjudicated delinquent in a youth court for the crime of rape pursuant to Section 96-3-65 or sexual battery pursuant to Section 97-3-95 is subject to lifetime registration and shall not be eligible to petition to be relieved of the duty to register.

          (g)  Registration following arrest or arraignment for failure to register is not a defense and does not relieve the sex offender of criminal liability for failure to register.

          (h)  The department shall continue to list in the registry the name and registration information of all registrants who no longer work, reside or attend school in this state even after the registrant moves to another jurisdiction and registers in the new jurisdiction as required by law.  The registry shall note that the registrant moved out of state.

     (3)  In determining whether to release an offender from the obligation to register, the court shall consider the nature of the registrable offense committed and the criminal and relevant noncriminal behavior of the petitioner both before and after conviction.  The court may relieve the offender of the duty to register only if the petitioner shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that the registrant properly maintained his registration as required by law and that future registration of the petitioner will not serve the purposes of this chapter and the court is otherwise satisfied that the petitioner is not a current or potential threat to public safety.  The district attorney in the circuit in which the petition is filed must be given notice of the petition at least three (3) weeks before the hearing on the matter.  The district attorney may present evidence in opposition to the requested relief or may otherwise demonstrate the reasons why the petition should be denied.  If the court denies the petition, the petitioner may not again petition the court for relief until one (1) year has elapsed unless the court orders otherwise in its order of denial of relief.

     (4)  The offender will be required to continue registration for any sex offense conviction unless the conviction is set aside in any post-conviction proceeding, the offender receives a pardon, the charge is dismissed or the offender has received a court order pursuant to this section relieving him of the duty to register.  Upon submission of the appropriate documentation to the department of one (1) of these occurrences, registration duties will be discontinued.

     SECTION 12.  Section 45-33-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-33-59.  (1)  Any person convicted of a sex offense who is employed in any position, or who contracts with a person to provide personal services, where the employment position or personal services contract will bring the person into close regular contact with children shall notify in writing the employer or the person with whom the person has contracted of his sex offender status.

     (2)  This section applies to all registered sex offenders regardless of the date of conviction.

     SECTION 13.  Section 47-7-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     47-7-35.  (1)  The courts referred to in Section 47-7-33 or 47-7-34 shall determine the terms and conditions of probation or post-release supervision and may alter or modify, at any time during the period of probation or post-release supervision, the conditions and may include among them the following or any other:

     That the offender shall:

          (a)  Commit no offense against the laws of this or any other state of the United States, or of the United States;

          (b)  Avoid injurious or vicious habits;

          (c)  Avoid persons or places of disreputable or harmful character;

          (d)  Report to the probation and parole officer as directed;

          (e)  Permit the probation and parole officer to visit him at home or elsewhere;

          (f)  Work faithfully at suitable employment so far as possible;

          (g)  Remain within a specified area;

          (h)  Pay his fine in one (1) or several sums;

          (i)  Support his dependents;

          (j)  Submit, as provided in Section 47-5-601, to any type of breath, saliva or urine chemical analysis test, the purpose of which is to detect the possible presence of alcohol or a substance prohibited or controlled by any law of the State of Mississippi or the United States;

          (k)  Register as a sex offender if so required under Title 45, Chapter 33.

     (2)  When any court places a defendant on misdemeanor probation, the court must cause to be conducted a search of the probationer's name or other identifying information against the registration information regarding sex offenders maintained under Title 45, Chapter 33.  The search may be conducted using the Internet site maintained by the Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry.

     SECTION 14.  Section 45-35-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     45-35-3.  (1)  Any person six (6) years of age or older may be issued an identification card by the department which is certified by the registrant and attested by the commissioner as to true name, correct age and such other identifying data as required by Section 45-35-5.

     (2)  The new, renewal or duplicate identification card of a person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 45-33-25 shall bear a designation identifying the cardholder as a sex offender.

     SECTION 15.  Section 63-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     63-1-35.  (1)  The Commissioner of Public Safety shall prescribe the form of licenses issued pursuant to this article which shall, among other features, include a driver's license number assigned by the Department of Public Safety which, at the option of the licensee, may or may not be the social security number of the licensee.  A licensee who chooses not to use his social security number as his driver's license number, except as otherwise provided under subsection (2) of this section, shall list his social security number with the department which shall cross reference the social security number with the driver's license number for purposes of identification.  Additionally, each license shall bear a full face color photograph of the licensee in such form that the license and the photograph cannot be separated.  Such photograph shall be taken so that one (1) exposure will photograph the applicant and the application simultaneously on the same film.  The department shall use a process in the issuance of a license with a color photograph which shall prevent as nearly as possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, reproduction, forging or modification of such license or the superimposition of a photograph without ready detection.  Such photograph shall be replacedby the department at the time of renewal.  Driver licenses, including photographs appearing thereon, may be renewed by electronic means according to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.  The Department of Public Safety may accept bank credit cards and debit cards in payment of fees for driver license renewals that are processed by electronic means and, if authorized by general law, may charge an additional fee for the use of such cards.

     (2)  The commissioner shall prescribe the form of licenses issued pursuant to this article to licensees who are not United States citizens and who do not possess a social security number issued by the United States government.  The licenses of such persons shall include a number and/or other identifying features.

     (3)  Any new, renewal or duplicate driver's license, temporary driving permit, intermediate license or commercial driver's license issued to a person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 45-33-25 shall bear a designation identifying the licensee or permittee as a sex offender.

     SECTION 16.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.