The proposed bill amends North Dakota law to establish a framework for low-risk sex offenders to petition for early discontinuation of their registration requirements. It introduces a new section, 12.1-32-15.1, which allows sexual offenders classified as low-risk to petition the court for relief from the duty to register after maintaining a clean record for seven years. 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 the offender's clean record and whether continued registration is necessary for public protection before granting the petition.
Additionally, the bill mandates a legislative management study during the 2025-26 interim to evaluate the implications of allowing low-risk sex offenders to petition for early discontinuation of registration. This study will assess various factors, including the impact on public and victim safety, the appropriate length of registration before eligibility, and other relevant considerations such as the age of the victim and the offender's need for end-of-life care. The findings and recommendations from this study will be reported to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly, potentially leading to further legislative action.