Oklahoma House OKs bill targeting sex offenders' housing

David Nichols, founder, president and executive director of Hand Up Ministries, said in an interview that he would talk with his attorneys about how the measure would affect his Christian prison ministry.

“I'm sure we'll try to file an injunction first,” Nichols said. “The worst — I'll just have to move them out into tents. I'll offer to let them stay on the property if they want to because they've got to keep a job. The only way they can do that is if I help them.”

Residents are required to have jobs and to get regular treatment at the mobile home park, he said. Three sex offenders are placed in three-bedroom mobile homes at his mobile home park, 2130 SE 59. They pay $400 a month to live in the mobile homes.

Most live in 69 three-bedroom mobile homes in his 14-acre park, Nichols said. The park also has 50 travel trailers, which are set aside for new arrivals; as space becomes available, they move into an available mobile home, he said.

The House voted 72-10 to pass Senate Bill 852. It now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon, House author of the measure, said the Oklahoma City Police Department requested the bill to clarify an existing state law that was intended to keep convicted sex offenders from living together.