AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government unanimously voted in favor of Rep. Danny Martin’s, D-Sinclair, bill “An Act To Expand the Areas Subject to Municipal Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders” Wednesday, March 28.
“This legislation closes a concerning loophole in public safety and I’m proud to have worked with Madawaska town officials and my colleagues in the Legislature to earn unanimous, bipartisan support for this bill,” said Martin “I will continue to push for the passage of this important legislation as it heads to the full House and Senate.”
LD 1877 as amended closes a loophole in existing law and will prevent registered sex offenders from residing close to a park or any other recreational facility owned by a municipality that is operated by a non-profit organization.
“It was important for us, and other Municipalities who like Madawaska already have local sex offender residency restriction ordinances in place, to have this legal technicality addressed by the legislature so that the Towns can legally enforce those ordinances” said Gary Picard, Madawaska town manager.
“I would like to thank Representative Danny Martin for taking this issue on behalf of the town, for working diligently with the State and Local Government Committee and the Maine Municipal Association, to get this legislation submitted, acted on by committee, and ultimately approved before the end of this legislative session.”
The bill now heads to the full House and Senate for further votes.
Rep. Martin is in his third non-consecutive term in the House and also served two terms in the Maine State Senate. He represents Frenchville, Grand Isle, Madawaska, St. Agatha and Van Buren, plus the unorganized territories of Square Lake (including Cross Lake, Madawaska Lake and Sinclair Townships).
