Texas towns repeal sex- offender law

Associated Press

DALLAS

A broad legal challenge has led more than 20 towns in Texas to ease restrictions over the last few months on where sex offenders can live instead of fighting a costly battle in court.

About 45 Texas towns received letters in November from the nonprofit group Texas Voices for Reason and Justice, demanding they repeal residency restrictions. It also has sued 14 towns and has a powerful ally – the state attorney general’s office.

At issue is how Texas’ small towns are differentiated from larger ones. Communities with fewer than 5,000 people are “general law” towns, which can’t adopt an ordinance that the Legislature hasn’t permitted.

Dozens of these smaller communities have restricted where sex offenders can live – usually with the purpose of keeping them away from schools and other places children gather – but only later learned they’ve run afoul of state rules.

“Unless the Legislature expressly authorizes it, a general-law municipality may not adopt an ordinance restricting where a registered sex offender may live,” according to a 2007 opinion signed by then-AG Greg Abbott, who’s now Texas governor.