Wisconsin Statutes 301.475 – Sex offenders to notify schools
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Attorney's Note
Under the Wisconsin Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class H felony | up to 6 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 301.475
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; "year" alone means "year of our Lord". See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
(1) A person who is required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 (1g) may not be on any school premises, as defined in s. 948.61 (1) (c), unless the school district administrator or his or her designee, if the premises are affiliated with a public school, or the governing body of the school, if the premises are affiliated with a private school or charter school, has been notified of the specific date, time, and place of the visit and of the person’s status as a registered sex offender.
(2)
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), whoever knowingly violates sub. (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both.
(b) Whoever knowingly violates sub. (1) as a 2nd or subsequent offense is guilty of a Class H felony.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the following:
(a) A person who is on the school premises to vote if an election is being held that day and the person’s polling place is on the school premises.
(b) A person who is on the school premises to attend an event or activity that is not sponsored by the school.
(c) A person whose child is enrolled at the school if the person notifies the school district administrator or his or her designee, if the premises are affiliated with a public school, or the governing body of the school, if the premises are affiliated with a private school or charter school, that he or she is a registered sex offender and that he or she has a child enrolled at the school. The notification must occur as follows:
2. If the child is not enrolled at the beginning of the academic school year, when the child is first enrolled.
3. If the person is not subject to the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 (1g) at the beginning of the academic school year or when the child is first enrolled, when the person first becomes subject to the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 (1g).
4. If subd. 1., 2., or 3. does not apply but the person is otherwise subject to the prohibition under sub. (1), when the person becomes subject to the prohibition under sub. (1).
(d) A student who is enrolled at the school if the department, county department, licensed child welfare agency, or other person supervising the student under a dispositional order under s. 938.34, whichever is appropriate, works with the school district administrator or his or her designee, if the premises are affiliated with a public school, or with the governing body of the school, if the premises are affiliated with a private school or charter school, to ensure the safety of the students attending the school with the student.
(3m) Unless sub. (3) (d) applies to a county department, licensed child welfare agency, or other person supervising a student under a dispositional order under s. 938.34, the department shall work with a school district administrator or his or her designee or a governing body of a school, whichever is appropriate, as provided in sub. (3) (d), to ensure that a student who is required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 (1g) is not prohibited under sub. (1) from being on the premises of the school at which he or she is enrolled and to ensure the safety of the other students attending the school.
(4) The department shall make a reasonable attempt to notify each person required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 (1g) of the prohibition under sub. (1), but neither the department’s failure to make such an attempt nor the department’s failure to notify a person of that prohibition is a defense to prosecution under this section.
(5) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant was traveling directly to the office of the school district administrator or his or her designee, if the premises are affiliated with a public school, or to the governing body of the school, if the premises are affiliated with a private school or charter school, to comply with sub. (1). A defendant who raises this affirmative defense has the burden of proving the defense by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) The school district administrator or his or her designee, if the premises are affiliated with a public school, or the governing body of the school, if the premises are affiliated with a private school or charter school, is immune from any civil or criminal liability for any good faith act or omission in connection with any notice given under sub. (1).