The bill, patterned after a state law that requires sex offenders to register with local law enforcement, would require anyone convicted of felony sex, drug, violent or white-collar crime to register with Honolulu police.

A person convicted of such crimes arriving from the mainland would need to register within three days.

The information would be available to the public for a period of five years, the bill says.

Mirikitani said he is introducing the measure because of recent events in his district. Robert M. Fox, 56, of Moiliili, who was convicted of child molestation in Nevada five years ago, recently was arrested for parole violation and sexually assaulting minors.

Last year, state legislators wrestled with requiring public notification but could not come up with a compromise.

Legislators say the issue is a complicated one dealing with budgetary, constitutional and practical problems such as enforceability.

The Legislature needs to act on some type of disclosure at its next session or risk losing federal crime-fighting dollars. The Megan Law, named after a New Jersey child who was kidnapped, raped and killed in 1994, requires community notification about convicted sex offenders.

At least 32 states have put the law into effect, but five states are in the midst of lawsuits challenging notification.

Mirikitani said City Council attorneys feel his bill has a chance of surviving legal challenges.

City Corporation Counsel Darolyn Lendio and Attorney General Margery Bronster said they would not comment until they have time to analyze the bill.

"This bill is designed to mesh with state law," Mirikitani said. "I don't think we can wait for the state Legislature."