Targeting loophole in sex offender law

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - New legislation has been introduced that if passed would require sex offenders to notify anyone they rent property to of their status.

The bill came to light after a local mother of three found out her landlord was a convicted sex offender. Laurie Ardino's story prompted a Rhode Island lawmaker to draft the new legislation to try to close the potential loophole in the state's sex offender law.

For months Laurie Ardino and her three young children lived under the same roof as a man they thought they knew. Her Johnston landlord was friendly, but a few months under her lease after a dispute, she learned he was a registered level 2 sex offender.

"My son would say hi to him, give him five. So he did interact with the kids," says Ardino. When Ardino tried to break the lease to leave that rental apartment she was met with resistance. That is when she contacted state representative Peter Palumbo.

"Something is always coming up as a loophole that you didn't think about," says Rep. Palumbo.

The house judiciary committee is meeting to discuss legislation to close that loophole, making it a requirement for all landlords to disclose from the beginning their status as a registered sex offender.

"If you have control over someone else where they are going to live then you are going to have to notify the people," says Rep. Palumbo.

"I think that they should have to disclose that information if they are living under the same roof. I think that is important," says Ardino.

Ardino was able to break her lease and now lives in a new apartment.