Sex offenses: registration.

Courts must now verify, in a manner subject to their discretion, an offender's participation in or completion of sex offender-specific treatment when deciding whether to order continued registration after a district attorney requests a hearing.

The prior single factor of 'successful completion, if any, of a CSOMB-certified sex offender treatment program' was replaced with two separate factors: (1) proof of participation in or successful completion of sex offender-specific treatment by the offender, and (2) proof of successful completion of a CSOMB-certified program specifically if the offender was required to complete that program.

Courts are now authorized to order SARATSO static, dynamic, and violence risk assessments if they are unable to verify treatment participation or completion, or as the court otherwise deems necessary to aid in determining the person's current risk of reoffense.

The stranger-victim factor was clarified from 'whether any victim was a stranger the offender was a stranger to the victim' to 'whether any victim was a stranger to the offender at the time of the offense (known to the offender for less than 24 hours),' making the direction of the relationship explicit.

A new requirement that the petitioner must currently reside in the state of California to file for termination from the sex offender registry. This excludes non-residents who are otherwise registered in California.

The petitioner's appearance at a hearing changed from mandatory ('shall personally appear') to discretionary ('the court may order the petitioner to be present'), with the option of remote video appearance. This gives courts flexibility and reduces barriers for petitioners.

A new requirement that the petition 'shall be heard in the county in which the person is registered,' fixing the venue for termination hearings.

The court's verification of treatment participation now explicitly includes 'an inquiry of the petitioner' as a permissible method, broadening how courts can confirm treatment completion.

Removed the requirement that a petitioner must show proof of successful completion of a California Sex Offender Management Board-certified sex offender treatment program as a precondition to filing a petition for termination from the sex offender registry under Section 290.5(a)(1).

Changed the hearing appearance requirement from 'the petitioner shall personally appear at the hearing' to 'the court may order the petitioner to be present at the hearing, either in person or remotely by video,' making appearance discretionary rather than mandatory and allowing remote participation.

Clarified the stranger-victim language from 'whether the offender was a stranger to the victim any victim was a stranger to the offender' to 'whether any victim was a stranger to the offender at the time of the offense (known to the offender for less than 24 hours).'

Corrected 'in relation to the any victim' to 'in relation to any victim' in the position of trust or authority factor.