This bill proposes the creation of a new section, 12.1-32-15.1, in the North Dakota Century Code, which establishes a process for sexual offenders to petition for relief from the requirement to register after a period of seven years. Specifically, it allows sexual offenders classified as low-risk by the attorney general to petition either the sentencing court or the district court in their residence area for an order to relieve them of the registration duty. The petition must be served to the state's attorney, who is required to notify the victim of the last offense if their address is available. The court will consider any statements from the victim and may grant the petition if the offender has maintained a clean record and if continued registration is deemed unnecessary for public protection.
The bill outlines the criteria for determining a "clean record," which includes not being convicted of any felony or sexual offenses during the registration period, successfully completing any court-ordered treatment programs, and fulfilling the terms of supervised release, probation, or parole without revocation. This legislation applies to sexual offenders who have met the registration requirements for at least seven years prior to the bill's effective date or those who will reach the seven-year mark after the bill becomes effective.