Day 101: This is one in a series of posts assessing key developments during Gov. Rick Snyder's self-imposed 182 days to chart a new course for Michigan by July 1. For earlier posts go to mlive.com/stateofchange.



So-called teenage “Romeos” convicted of having consensual sex with their girlfriends would no longer be listed on the state’s large sex offender registry under legislation signed into law this morning by Gov. Rick Snyder.

About 45,000 offenders are listed on the 15-year-old registry, among them an unknown number of teenagers convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, or statutory rape.

The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, and Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair, says that certain violations -- sodomy, gross indecency or CSC with a minor -- would not be listed offenses if the victim was least 13 years old but younger than 16, and if the violator was not more than four years older.

The bills allow Michigan to avoid losses in federal funding, a penalty for states that fail to comply with a federal effort to have uniform sex offender registry standards.

“These changes make sure the registry is used to better identify and protect the public from dangerous predators,” Snyder said while exempting those “who should be living their lives and don’t pose a risk to the public.”

Jones said, “we’re narrowing the list to make it tougher on the child predator, but were fixing the Romeo and Juliet problem. Typically, 17-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl in high school, boyfriend-girlfriend, it’s still illegal but they will never again be on the sex offender list.”

Those on the list now who fall under that category will be able to petition the court after the July 1 effective date of the law to have their name removed.

“If you’re on that list as a young man, you can’t get in the Army, you can’t get a good job,” Jones said.

Contact Peter Luke at (517) 487-8888 ext. 235 or e-mail him at pluke@boothmichigan.com.