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34 USC § 20919 - Duty to notify sex offenders of registration requirements and to register 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t34/s20919"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "34 USC § 20919 - Duty to notify sex offenders of registration requirements and to register"
title_number: 34
title_name: "CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT"
section_number: "20919"
section_name: "Duty to notify sex offenders of registration requirements and to register"
chapter_number: 209
chapter_name: "CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Sex Offender Registration and Notification"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–248, title I, § 117, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 595.)"
---

# § 20919. Duty to notify sex offenders of registration requirements and to register

**(a)** **In general** An appropriate official shall, shortly before release of the sex offender from custody, or, if the sex offender is not in custody, immediately after the sentencing of the sex offender, for the offense giving rise to the duty to register—

**(1)** inform the sex offender of the duties of a sex offender under this subchapter and explain those duties;

**(2)** require the sex offender to read and sign a form stating that the duty to register has been explained and that the sex offender understands the registration requirement; and

**(3)** ensure that the sex offender is registered.

**(b)** **Notification of sex offenders who cannot comply with subsection (a)** The Attorney General shall prescribe rules for the notification of sex offenders who cannot be registered in accordance with subsection (a).

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–248, title I, § 117, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 595.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of , , , known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Short Title of 2006 Act note set out under  and Tables.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.