AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION (Provides that violations of § 11-37.1-10 relating to failing to register as a sex offender are subject to the duration and frequency of registrations pursuant to § 11-37.1-4.)

S3134

2026 -- S 3134
========
LC005643
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND
COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

Introduced By:
Senators Raptakis, Burke, McKenney, Dimitri, Quezada, LaMountain,
and Thompson

Date Introduced:
March 20, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
(Attorney General)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 11-37.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-37.1 entitled "Sexual
2
Offender Registration and Community Notification" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

11-37.1-4. Duration of registration — Frequency of registration.
4
(a) Annual registration. Any person required to register under § 11-37.1-3(a)(1)
,

or
(2)
, or
5
(9)
shall annually register with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city
6
or town in which the person having the duty to register resides for a period of ten (10) years from
7
the expiration of sentence for the offense and shall verify his or her address with the agency on a
8
quarterly basis for the first two (2) years of the period unless the person has been determined to be
9
a sexually violent predator in accordance with § 11-37.1-6 or unless the person is required to
10
register for the life of that person in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.
11
(b) Sexually violent predators. Any person who has been determined to be a sexually
12
violent predator in accordance with the provisions of § 11-37.1-6 shall be required to annually
13
register in person with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town
14
in which the person having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his
15
or her address on a quarterly basis for the life of that person.
16
(c) Recidivists and aggravated crime offenders. Any person required to register under § 11-
17
37.1-3 and who has one or more prior convictions for any offense described in § 11-37.1-2 or has
18
been convicted of an aggravated offense as defined in § 11-37.1-2 shall annually register in person

1
with the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person
2
having the duty to register resides for the life of that person and to verify his or her address on a
3
quarterly basis for the life of that person.
4
(d) Nonresident workers and students. Any nonresident person required to register pursuant
5
to § 11-37.1-3(b)(1) or (2) shall annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency
6
having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the person having the duty to register is employed
7
or attends a public or private educational institution for the period of time that the person is
8
employed in Rhode Island or is attending a public or private educational institution in Rhode Island.
9
(e) Initial registration; Incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under this
10
chapter who are sentenced to a period of confinement shall perform their initial registration by
11
appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person
12
intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their release from confinement.
13
(f) Initial registration; Non-incarcerated individuals. All persons required to register under
14
this chapter who are convicted in Rhode Island and who are not sentenced to serve a term of
15
incarceration or confinement shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the
16
local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within
17
twenty-four (24) hours of being sentenced.
18
(g) Initial registration; Individuals relocating to Rhode Island. All persons required to
19
register under this chapter who are moving their residence to Rhode Island from another jurisdiction
20
shall perform their initial registration by appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency
21
in the city or town in which the person intends to reside within twenty-four (24) hours of their
22
arrival in Rhode Island.
23
(h) Initial registration; Nonresident workers and students. All nonresident workers or
24
students who are required to register under this chapter shall perform their initial registration by
25
appearing in person at the local law enforcement agency in the city or town in which the person is
26
employed or is attending a public or private educational institution within twenty-four (24) hours
27
of their first day of their personal attendance at their place of employment or a public or private
28
educational institution.
29
(i) Tolling provision. Where, during the period in which any person is required to register,
30
a person required to register under this chapter is incarcerated or re-incarcerated for any offense or
31
is civilly committed, the person’s registration requirements shall be tolled during the subsequent
32
incarceration, re-incarceration or commitment.
33
(j) Juveniles. Any juvenile having the duty to register under subsections (b) and (c) of this
34
section shall be required to annually register in person with the local law enforcement agency

LC005643 - Page 2 of 4
1
having jurisdiction over the city or town in which the juvenile having the duty to register resides
2
for fifteen (15) years subsequent to the date of release from confinement or placement in the
3
community or probation for such offense or offenses and to verify his or her address on a quarterly
4
basis for said fifteen (15) years. However, if a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent under § 11-37-8.1
5
or 11-37-8.3, the court shall assess the totality of the circumstances of the offense and if the court
6
makes a finding that the conduct of the parties is criminal only because of the age of the victim, the
7
court may have discretion to order the juvenile to register as a sex offender as long as the court
8
deems it appropriate to protect the community and to rehabilitate the juvenile offender. Registration
9
shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
10
(k) Annual registration for federal, foreign, or military offenses. Any person who is
11
required to register under this chapter due to a conviction of a federal offense, a foreign offense, or
12
a military offense shall register for the duration and frequency in the same manner as if the offense
13
were committed within Rhode Island.
14
(l) Homeless persons. In addition to the other requirements of this section, a person who is
15
required to register under this chapter and is homeless shall verify their presence in the community
16
with the local law enforcement agency where they are required to register three (3) times a week
17
for the duration of their being homeless.
18
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC005643
========

LC005643 - Page 3 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND
COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
***
1
This act would provide that violations of § 11-37.1-10 relating to failing to register as a sex
2
offender are subject to the duration and frequency of registrations pursuant to § 11-37.1-4.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC005643
========

LC005643 - Page 4 of 4