Sex offenders: working with minors.

Under existing law, a person required to register as a sex offender who applies for or accepts a position as an employee or volunteer with any person, group, or organization where he or she would be working directly and in an unaccompanied setting with minor children on a regular basis, is required to disclose his or her registrant status, as specified. Existing law also prohibits a person required to register as a sex offender because of a conviction for a crime where the victim was a minor under 16 years of age from being an employer, employee, or independent contractor, or acting as a volunteer with any person, group, or organization in a capacity in which the registrant would be working directly and in an unaccompanied setting with minor children on more than an incidental and occasional basis or from having supervision or disciplinary power over minor children. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would specify that "working directly and in an unaccompanied setting" includes, but is not limited to, providing goods or services to minors. Because the bill would change the scope of an existing crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.