Topeka ? Legislation establishing how close to a school or day care center convicted child molesters can live will be reworked by the House Judiciary Committee before going to the chamber for debate.

The bill is designed to prevent such offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a licensed day care center or 1,500 feet of any school.

“The safety of our children is the obvious reason to enact the law,” said sponsoring Rep. Virginia Beamer, R-Oakley.

But Chuck Simmons, deputy corrections secretary, questioned whether the bill would work.

He noted studies have shown that similar laws in other states failed to live up to expectations.

“The law wouldn’t prevent someone not allowed to live in the area from going into the area,” he said. “A person can still go to the schools. They just can’t live near there.”

Chairman Mike O’Neal said the committee will vote on the bill in about two weeks after making changes.

“It’s a question of distance, not a question of whether we have restrictions,” said O’Neal, R-Hutchinson.

O’Neal said the bill goes beyond sex offenders targeting children and he wants to limit it to that group. He also said the bill applies to those molesting anyone younger than 18 and he wants to consider lowering that age.