A Petition to Pass the Idaho Community Safety & Mandatory Disclosure Act

Our children deserve protection. Our families deserve transparency. Our communities deserve to be informed.

We, the undersigned Idaho residents, parents, grandparents, educators, and concerned citizens, are calling on the Idaho Legislature and Governor to strengthen Idaho’s sex offender registration, disclosure, and community notification laws.

Idaho currently maintains a public sex offender registry. However, having information available through a registry is not the same as requiring registered sex offenders to proactively disclose their status to employers, landlords, property managers, neighbors, schools, and other individuals or organizations directly affected by where they live or work.

WE BELIEVE IDAHO FAMILIES DESERVE STRONGER PROTECTIONS, GREATER TRANSPARENCY, AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

Parents should not have to discover through their own research that a registered sex offender is living nearby, working in an environment involving children, or residing in a community where families reasonably expect appropriate safety procedures to be followed.

We believe the responsibility for legally required disclosure should not fall entirely on the public.

WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING

We are asking Idaho lawmakers to introduce and pass legislation known as the:

IDAHO COMMUNITY SAFETY & MANDATORY DISCLOSURE ACT

This proposed legislation should establish clear, enforceable disclosure and notification requirements for individuals required to register as sex offenders under Idaho law.

1. MANDATORY DISCLOSURE TO EMPLOYERS

Require registered sex offenders to disclose their registration status to current and prospective employers.

This should include employment involving:

• - Children and minors.
  - Schools and educational facilities.
  - Daycare centers and childcare programs.
  - Vulnerable adults.
  - Healthcare and caregiving environments.
  - Positions involving unsupervised access to vulnerable individuals.
  - Employers should receive accurate information necessary to evaluate applicable legal restrictions, workplace safety responsibilities, and job-related risks.

Employers deserve transparency, especially when vulnerable individuals may be involved.

2. MANDATORY DISCLOSURE TO LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS

Require registered sex offenders to disclose their registration status before entering into a new residential lease or rental agreement.

This should apply to:

• - Apartment complexes.
  - Rental homes.
  - Manufactured home communities.
  - Mobile home parks.
  - RV parks.
  - Long-term residential campgrounds.
  - Other residential rental communities.
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•  Landlords and property managers should receive this information before approving residency, allowing them to evaluate applicable legal requirements and lawful property policies.

Disclosure should not automatically authorize unlawful housing discrimination or override existing legal protections.

Property managers should not be left unaware of information that may affect their legal obligations and community safety procedures.

3. MANDATORY NOTIFICATION TO NEIGHBORS

Establish a verified community notification process when a registered sex offender establishes residency in a residential neighborhood.

We propose requiring appropriate notification to nearby households within a reasonable distance established by lawmakers.

Notifications should:

• - Be issued through an authorized law enforcement or state-administered system.
  - Include accurate, legally releasable registration information.
  - Be delivered within a clearly defined timeframe.
  - Provide information about how residents can verify registry records.
  - Explain how to report legitimate safety concerns.
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• Where appropriate and legally permissible, notification should occur before residency begins or promptly afterward.

Families deserve timely information about registered sex offenders living in their communities.

4. MANDATORY DISCLOSURE TO SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES

Require appropriate notification when a registered sex offender resides, works, volunteers, or regularly enters designated child-sensitive environments under circumstances defined by law.

This should include:

• - Public schools.
  - Private schools.
  - Daycare centers.
  - Preschools.
  - Childcare facilities.
  - Youth organizations.
  - Other designated programs serving minors.
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• Schools and childcare providers should have access to information necessary to follow applicable restrictions and implement appropriate safety procedures.

Protecting children should remain a priority in every community.

5. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RV PARKS AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES

Require registered sex offenders to disclose their status to RV park operators, campground managers, and residential property management before establishing residency.

We propose that:

• - Disclosure occur before a rental or residency agreement is finalized.
  - Management receive accurate information about applicable registration requirements.
  - Operators have a lawful process for verifying registration status.
  - Residents receive any community notification required by the new law.
  - Knowingly providing false information or intentionally withholding legally required information carry appropriate penalties.
•  
• These provisions should apply to qualifying long-term residential RV parks and similar communities, including those where families with children reside.

Families living in RV parks and residential communities deserve the same consideration for safety and transparency as families living in traditional neighborhoods.

6. DISCLOSURE BEFORE MOVING INTO A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

We are asking Idaho lawmakers to establish a mandatory pre-residency disclosure process whenever legally and practically feasible.

Under this proposal, registered sex offenders would be required to:

• - Disclose their status to landlords or residential property managers before entering into rental agreements.
  - Complete applicable registration and address reporting requirements.
  - Provide any additional legally required disclosures before establishing residency.
  - Cooperate with authorized notification and verification procedures.
  - Update required information when changing residences.
•  
• For neighboring households, notification should be handled through a verified government-administered process, with reasonable deadlines and safeguards.

This legislation should also address emergency housing situations, temporary accommodations, and other circumstances where advance notification may not be possible.

The goal is to ensure legally required disclosure happens proactively, rather than only after someone discovers the information independently.

7. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR KNOWINGLY FAILING TO DISCLOSE

A LAW WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT ENOUGH!

We are calling on Idaho lawmakers to establish enforceable penalties for registered sex offenders who knowingly and willfully violate the new disclosure requirements.

We propose:

FIRST VIOLATION — MISDEMEANOR

A first knowing and willful violation of a clearly established disclosure requirement should be punishable as a misdemeanor.

SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION — ENHANCED PENALTIES

Repeat, knowing violations should carry stronger consequences, potentially including felony charges when legally justified.

KNOWINGLY PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION

Deliberately providing false information to avoid a legally required disclosure should be subject to appropriate criminal penalties.

VIOLATIONS INVOLVING CHILD-SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Knowingly violating disclosure requirements involving schools, daycare facilities, or other designated child-sensitive settings should be considered for enhanced penalties when the circumstances warrant them.

All criminal provisions should include clear definitions, appropriate intent requirements, due process protections, and legally justified exceptions.

If disclosure becomes a legal requirement, knowingly violating that requirement must carry meaningful consequences.

8. ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT

We demand that Idaho lawmakers establish a clear system for implementing and enforcing these requirements.

This should include:

• - Clearly defined disclosure deadlines.
  - Written or electronic verification procedures.
  - Accessible reporting methods for suspected violations.
  - Appropriate investigation procedures.
  - Coordination among relevant state and local authorities.
  - Clear penalties for proven violations.
  - Protections against knowingly false accusations.
  - Safeguards against harassment, threats, and vigilante actions.
  -  Reasonable exceptions and constitutional due process protections.
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• The purpose of this law should be prevention, accountability, and public safety—not harassment or retaliation.

WHY IDAHO NEEDS STRONGER DISCLOSURE LAWS

Idaho families deserve more than the ability to search a public registry.

They deserve a system that provides accurate, timely, and legally appropriate notification when circumstances warrant it.

Parents deserve information that helps them make informed decisions about their children’s safety.

Employers deserve relevant information when evaluating positions involving vulnerable individuals.

Landlords and residential community managers deserve to understand applicable registration requirements and lawful property policies.

Schools and childcare facilities deserve appropriate notification to support their safety responsibilities.

And most importantly, CHILDREN DESERVE TO GROW UP IN COMMUNITIES THAT TAKE THEIR SAFETY SERIOUSLY.

We recognize that registered sex offenders have different convictions, circumstances, and legal restrictions. Any new legislation must be carefully drafted to comply with constitutional requirements and existing laws.

However, those considerations should not prevent lawmakers from examining whether Idaho’s current disclosure and notification system can be strengthened.

OUR MESSAGE TO IDAHO LAWMAKERS

We are calling on the Idaho Legislature and Governor to take the following actions:

1. 1. Introduce the proposed Idaho Community Safety & Mandatory Disclosure Act.
   2. Establish clear disclosure requirements for employers, landlords, residential property managers, and designated organizations.
   3. Create a verified community notification process for qualifying residential situations.
   4. Establish appropriate pre-residency disclosure requirements.
   5. Strengthen notification procedures involving schools, daycares, and child-sensitive environments.
   6. Create enforceable criminal penalties for knowingly violating newly established disclosure requirements.
   7. Provide appropriate oversight, safeguards, and due process protections.
   8. Review existing Idaho law to ensure the proposed requirements are effective, legally sound, and consistent with public safety goals.
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3. THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING FAMILIES, NOT ENCOURAGING HARASSMENT

We are not asking anyone to threaten, intimidate, harass, or take the law into their own hands.

We are asking elected officials to consider stronger laws that promote responsible disclosure, informed communities, and accountability.

Public safety legislation should be based on accurate information, enforceable standards, and respect for the law.

IDAHO FAMILIES DESERVE ACTION!

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY BEFORE DISCUSSING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN.

Every parent deserves to feel that their child’s safety is taken seriously.

Every community deserves access to accurate information through responsible legal procedures.

And every law designed to protect the public should have clear expectations and meaningful accountability.

OUR CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION.

OUR FAMILIES DESERVE TRANSPARENCY.

OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

We urge Idaho lawmakers to hear the voices of families and concerned citizens across our state.

SIGN THIS PETITION. SHARE THIS PETITION. HELP US DEMAND CHANGE.

If you believe Idaho should strengthen its sex offender disclosure and community notification laws, add your signature today.

Share this petition with friends, family members, neighbors, educators, and other Idaho residents.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CALL FOR A SAFER, MORE INFORMED IDAHO.

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. INFORM OUR COMMUNITIES. STRENGTHEN IDAHO LAW.