§ 14-71. Legislative findings and intent.

(a)

The findings set forth in the forgoing recitals (whereas clauses) to this article are hereby adopted as additional legislative findings.

(b)

This article is intended to serve the county's compelling interest to promote, protect and improve the health safety and welfare of the citizens of the county by creating area around locations where children regularly congregate in concentrated numbers wherein sexual offenders and sexual predators are prohibited from establishing temporary or permanent residence.

(c)

The county hereby adopts the provisions of F.S. § 775.21(3)(a), which state as follows:

"Repeat sexual offenders, sexual offenders, who use physical violence, and sexual offenders who prey on children are sexual predators who present an extreme threat to the public safety. Sexual offenders are extremely likely to use physical violence and to repeat their offenses, and most sexual offenders commit many offenses, have many more victims than are ever reported, and are prosecuted for only a fraction of their crimes. This makes the cost of sexual offender victimization to society at large, while incalculable, clearly exorbitant."

(d)

The county hereby adopts the provisions of F.S. § 947.1405(7), which provides in pertinent part that:

"It is the finding of the Legislature that the population of offenders released from state prison into the community who meet the conditional release criteria poses the greatest threat to the public safety of the groups of offenders under community supervision. Therefore, the Department of Corrections is to provide intensive supervision by experienced correctional probation officers to conditional release offenders."

(e)

It is the desire of the board of county commissioners that the Osceola County School District carefully adhere to the provisions of F.S. § 947.1405(7), which relates to the requirement that school bus stops be located at least one thousand (1,000) feet from the persons who are the subject of this article.

(Ord. No. 05-28, § 1, 8-15-05)