The bill amends the Revised Code to prohibit "qualified sex offender/child-victim offenders" from being present on school, preschool, or child care center premises, with specific exceptions for legitimate purposes such as picking up children or attending meetings. It establishes that individuals aged 18 and older in this classification cannot knowingly enter these premises, while also providing affirmative defenses for enrolled students or parents/guardians attending for legitimate reasons. Additionally, the bill requires sheriffs to notify these offenders about the prohibitions and the legitimate purposes for their presence, and it mandates the attorney general to maintain a state registry of sex offenders with detailed compliance information. Moreover, the bill establishes a sex offender and child-victim offender database to be operated by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, which will include essential information about offenders while protecting sensitive details about victims. It introduces escalating penalties for violations of registration requirements, particularly for repeat offenders, and mandates that schools provide remote alternatives for meetings with parents who are prohibited from being on school premises. The bill also outlines compliance requirements for community schools and specific educational institutions, including STEM and college-preparatory boarding schools, and introduces new legal language with the inclusion of section 3313.475, while repealing several existing sections to restructure the legal framework governing these institutions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2950.13, 2950.99, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24
As Reported By Senate Committee: 2950.13, 2950.99, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24
As Passed By Senate: 2950.13, 2950.99, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24