ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House Speaker Kurt Zellers says the House will use emergency steps to pass legislation to close a loophole in sex offender notification law.
Under current law, the public must be notified about the release of a sex offender but not if the offender is released to a halfway house first. The bill would close the gap. It's a response to the upcoming release of sex offender Clarence Opheim to a Twin Cities halfway house.
Zellers on Friday urged Gov. Mark Dayton to push for support among Democrats. Dayton says he would support the measure as long as it is limited in scope.
A two-thirds vote is required to consider a bill on an accelerated timetable. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen says Democrats will join Republicans in speeding it up.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
