(a) Notwithstanding other provisions to the contrary, the Department, the Department of Corrections, and any authorized local law enforcement agency are authorized to notify members of the public at their discretion about any sex offender whose information is required to be posted on the Internet in accordance with section 5411a of this title.

(b) The Department, the Department of Corrections, and any authorized local law enforcement agency are authorized to notify members of the public at their discretion about a sex offender whose information is not required to be posted on the Internet in accordance with section 5411a of this title only under circumstances that constitute a compelling risk to public safety and only after consultation with the Vermont Crime Information Center and the Department of Corrections.

(c) Registry information shall not be released under this section unless it is released pursuant to written protocols governing the manner and circumstances of the release developed by the Department, the Department of Corrections, or an authorized law enforcement agency. The protocols shall include consultation between the department or agency releasing the information and the department of corrections' staff member responsible for supervising the offender.

(d) Active community notification regarding registered sex offenders who may pose a danger to members of the community is an important public safety tool that the General Assembly intends for authorized agencies to use at their discretion in accordance with this subchapter. (Added 2005, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 27, eff. May 26, 2006.)