CHEYENNE - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve a bill that would require those convicted of sex offenses against minors to wear location monitoring devices when they are not imprisoned.

Offenders would have to wear the devices as long as they're required to register with the state's sex offender database. The ankle bracelet would alert authorities whenever a convicted sex offender entered a prohibited zone like a school or day care center area.

"We still have sex offenders wandering around the state," said Sen. Kit Jennings, R-Casper. "Data shows that once they have it (a sexual interest in children), they always have it. In some way or another we need to do something to protect our children, and I think this is the best way."

Jennings said he's sponsoring the bill in an effort to keep Wyoming from becoming a haven for sex offenders. He told the committee that he's heard of convicted sex offenders relocating to Wyoming after learning the state's sex offender policies are comparatively lax.

Jennings said 30 percent of registered sex offenders in Florida left after that state strengthened its laws and added a requirement for monitoring devices. "They didn't want the ankle bracelet," Jennings said.

The bill, Senate File 101, is estimated to cost the state roughly $4.8 million in its first year, but it calls for a judge to determine whether the offender is capable of paying part of the costs of the device. The proposed measure also says the court may allow an offender to perform community service and be granted credit against all or part of such costs and fees at the rate of $5 for each hour of community service performed.