CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Nevada lawmakers are debating a bill that would provide additional protections to victims of sex offenders, by prohibiting the offenders from moving within 1,000
feet of the victims.

Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, R-Henderson, who introduced AB325, told the Assembly Corrections, Parole and Probation Committee that as the law is written now, offenders could move across the street or next door to their victims.

Committee members were told by a young mother, who was raped by her babysitter's boyfriend when she was four years old, that her attacker years later moved next door to her grandmother, where the victim used to live.

Lawmakers also were told that in some instances, sex offenders have a difficult time finding a place to live because entire towns are off-limits. To remedy that, the bill also would give some
latitude to sex offenders who are attempting to comply with the law.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)