Bill Overview
Title: International Megan’s Law Improvement Act of 2022
Description: This bill adds a requirement for the Department of State to place a unique identifier in passports issued to sex offenders who must re-register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction upon return to the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People who are registered sex offenders and require re-registration upon returning to the US
Estimated Size: 780000
- The bill targets sex offenders who are required to register under any jurisdiction's sex offender registration program in the United States.
- Individuals affected are those who need a unique identifier placed in their passports.
- It affects international travel logistics of these individuals, as their passports will be marked.
- This impacts their privacy and potentially their treatment by foreign authorities and entities.
Reasoning
- The target population is explicitly sex offenders who must re-register upon return to the US, impacting their passports with a unique identifier.
- The broad population coverage considers that not all registered sex offenders have passports or travel internationally.
- Budget constraints may limit the implementation or the scope of impact, focused on administrative costs related to passport identification changes.
- Despite a large number of registered sex offenders, the actual number impacted is smaller due to the specific conditions of international travel and re-registration.
- Not all members of the target population will be equally impacted due to different frequencies of travel and awareness levels about international movements.
Simulated Interviews
Security Guard (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for safety, but this feels like extra punishment that's unwarranted.
- International travel is going to become a lot more complicated for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Unemployed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me directly as I don't have a passport.
- Still, it makes me worry about increasing limitations placed on my life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a marked passport may subject me to additional scrutiny when I travel overseas.
- This seems to directly interfere with my freedom of movement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 7 |
IT Specialist (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This means I need to inform my employer about my marked passport, complicating work-related travel.
- I fear judgment from colleagues and clients abroad.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 5 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't travel often, but this adds a lot of anxiety to planning trips.
- Feels like being punished anew for past mistakes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Writer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can't afford international travel anyway due to financial constraints.
- I’m concerned about possibilities rather than current practicalities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student (Washington D.C.)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Participating in my study abroad program could be affected by this.
- I'm worried about how I will be perceived by others internationally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Artist (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't plan to travel internationally, so it doesn't directly affect me.
- It feels like a measure that doesn’t apply to my life now but adds to stress from restrictions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
NGO Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Marked passports might affect my ability to assist international communities.
- Might face backlash from international partners or visa denials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Freelancer (Austin, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Travel to Canada is crucial for my work, and this policy makes it all the more stressful.
- I'm worried about how I will be received during international conferences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1700000 (Low: $1200000, High: $2200000)
Year 2: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1400000 (Low: $900000, High: $1900000)
Year 5: $1300000 (Low: $800000, High: $1800000)
Year 10: $1200000 (Low: $700000, High: $1700000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- Implementation depends on modifying existing passport processing systems, which might face technical and logistical challenges.
- The policy potentially impacts international diplomatic relations and the treatment of individuals internationally.
- Privacy concerns might arise due to the marked passports, necessitating strong data protection measures.
- Public perception of the policy could influence community support or opposition.