Record #: O2016-6448   
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
Intro date: 9/14/2016 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Public Safety
Final action: 11/16/2016
Title: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-64 to restrict access to public libraries by child sex offenders
Sponsors: Quinn, Marty, Willie B. Cochran, Taliaferro, Chris, Thompson, Patrick D., Napolitano, Anthony V., Sposato, Nicholas, Zalewski, Michael R., O'Shea, Matthew J., Reboyras, Ariel
Topic: MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - Title 2 - City Government & Administration - Ch. 64 Municipal Libraries, MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - Title 8 - Offenses Affecting Public Peace, Morals & Welfare - Ch. 16 Offenses By or Against Minors
Attachments: 1. O2016-6448.pdf
An Ordinance in Relation to Restrictions on Child Sex Offenders in Public Libraries

ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago ("City") is a home rule municipality as described in Section 6(a), Article VII of the 1970 Constitution ofthe State of Illinois, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and

WHEREAS, The City established by ordinance at Chapter 2-64 of the Municipal Code of Chicago the Chicago Public Library; and

WHEREAS, The City established the Library to be a free public library and reading room for the use of all residents ofthe City; and

WHEREAS, Certain users of the Library include persons who have been convicted of sex offenses against children, and who are now required to register as sex offenders under the laws of the State ("Child Sex Offenders"); and

WHEREAS, Certain users of the Library include persons under the age of 18; and

WHEREAS, The laws of the State prohibit or set restrictions on activities in which Child Sex Offenders may engage, and places they may go, including: volunteering at facilities providing programs exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18; going inside or being within 500 feet of a public school building; being within 100 feet of the site of a school bus pick-up or drop-off; being in a public park building, a playground or recreation area when persons under the age of 18 are present; or being within 500 feet of a child care institution or day care center; and

WHEREAS, The City has an obligation to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of all of its residents; and

WHEREAS, The City must balance the constitutional rights of Child Sex Offenders to use the Library with the need to protect Library patrons under the age of 18 from harm; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chicago find that it is important to the protection and promotion of the health, safety and welfare of all residents of the City to set restrictions o...

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