NORWICH – Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting is championing a new local law that would prohibit sex offenders from living near school and registered day cares.

The statute would prevent level II and level III sex offenders in Chenango County from residing within 500 feet of the nearest property line of a park, playground, school or day care setting for children. Registered sex offenders already residing in the community would be grandfathered in until their current lease expires.

“Many of our level IIs and IIIs have the propensity to reoffend,” Sheriff Cutting said. “We want to limit where they can live.”