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S.B. 25

             1     

MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS -

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Scott N. Howell

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL LAW; AMENDING PROVISIONS REGARDING
             7      SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST MINORS AND MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS; AND
             8      MAKING TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          76-10-1206, as last amended by Chapter 164, Laws of Utah 1997
             12          76-10-1212, as enacted by Chapter 92, Laws of Utah 1977
             13          76-10-1213, as enacted by Chapter 92, Laws of Utah 1977
             14      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             15          Section 1. Section 76-10-1206 is amended to read:
             16           76-10-1206. Dealing in material harmful to a minor.
             17          (1) A person is guilty of dealing in [harmful] material harmful to minors when, knowing
             18      that a person is a minor, or having failed to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the proper age
             19      of a minor, he:
             20          (a) intentionally distributes or offers to distribute, exhibits or offers to exhibit to a minor
             21      any [harmful] material harmful to [a minor] minors;
             22          (b) intentionally produces, presents, or directs any performance before a minor, that is
             23      harmful to minors; or
             24          (c) intentionally participates in any performance before a minor, that is harmful to minors.
             25          (2) Each separate offense under this section is a third degree felony punishable by a
             26      minimum mandatory fine of not less than $300 plus $10 for each article exhibited up to the
             27      maximum allowed by law and by incarceration, without suspension of sentence in any way, for a


             28      term of not less than 14 days. This section supersedes Section 77-18-1 .
             29          (3) If a defendant has already been convicted once under this section, each separate further
             30      offense is a second degree felony punishable by a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $5,000
             31      plus $10 for each article exhibited up to the maximum allowed by law and by incarceration,
             32      without suspension of sentence in any way, for a term of not less than one year. This section
             33      supersedes Section 77-18-1 .
             34          Section 2. Section 76-10-1212 is amended to read:
             35           76-10-1212. Search and seizure -- Affidavit -- Issuance of warrant -- Hearing upon
             36      claim that material seized not pornographic or harmful to minors -- Procedures cumulative.
             37          (1) An affidavit for a search warrant shall be filed with the magistrate describing with
             38      specificity the material sought to be seized. Where practical, the material alleged to be
             39      pornographic or harmful to minors shall be attached to the affidavit for search warrant [so as] to
             40      afford the magistrate the opportunity to examine this material.
             41          (2) Upon the filing of an affidavit for a search warrant, the magistrate shall determine, by
             42      examination of the material sought to be seized if attached, by examination of the affidavit
             43      describing the material, or by [such] other manner or means that he [deems] finds necessary,
             44      whether probable cause exists to believe that the material is pornographic or harmful to minors and
             45      whether probable cause exists for the immediate issuance of a search warrant. Upon making this
             46      determination, he shall issue a search warrant ordering the seizure of the material described in the
             47      affidavit for a search warrant according to the provisions of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.
             48          (3) [In the event that] (a) If a search warrant is issued and material alleged to be
             49      pornographic or harmful to minors is seized under the provisions of this section, any person
             50      claiming to be in possession of this material or claiming ownership of it at the time of its seizure
             51      may file a notice in writing with the magistrate within [10] ten days after the date of the seizure,
             52      alleging that the material is not pornographic or harmful to minors.
             53          (b) The magistrate shall set a hearing within seven days after the filing of this notice, or
             54      at [such other] another time [as] to which the claimant might agree. At this hearing evidence may
             55      be presented as to whether there is probable cause to believe the material seized is pornographic
             56      or harmful to minors, and at the conclusion of the hearing the magistrate shall make a further
             57      determination of whether probable cause exists to believe that the material is pornographic or
             58      harmful to minors.


             59          (c) A decision as to whether there is probable cause to believe the seized material is
             60      pornographic or harmful to minors shall be rendered by the court within two days after the
             61      conclusion of the hearing.
             62          (d) If at the hearing the magistrate finds that no probable cause exists to believe that the
             63      material is pornographic or harmful to minors, then the material shall be returned to the person or
             64      persons from whom it was seized.
             65          (e) If the material seized is a film, and the claimant demonstrates that no other copy of the
             66      film is available to him, the court shall allow the film to be copied at the claimant's expense
             67      pending the hearing.
             68          (4) If a motion to suppress the evidence is granted on the grounds of an unlawful seizure,
             69      the property shall be restored unless it is subject to confiscation as contraband, in which case it
             70      [shall] may not be returned.
             71          (5) (a) Procedures under this section for the seizure of allegedly pornographic material
             72      [shall be] or material harmful to minors are cumulative of all other lawful means of obtaining
             73      evidence as provided by the laws of this state. [Nothing contained in this]
             74          (b) This section [shall] does not prevent the obtaining of allegedly pornographic material
             75      or material harmful to minors by purchase, subpoena duces tecum, or under injunction proceedings
             76      as authorized by this act or by any other provision of law of the state [of Utah].
             77          Section 3. Section 76-10-1213 is amended to read:
             78           76-10-1213. Corporate defendants -- Summons -- Subpoena duces tecum.
             79          (1) (a) The attendance in court of a corporation for purposes of commencing or prosecuting
             80      a criminal action against it under this part may be accomplished by the issuance and service of a
             81      summons. A summons shall be issued by a magistrate if he finds probable cause that material in
             82      the possession of the corporation against which the summons is sought is pornographic or harmful
             83      to minors, which finding shall be upon affidavit describing with specificity the material alleged
             84      to be pornographic or harmful to minors or [in such other] by another manner or means the
             85      magistrate [deems] finds necessary.
             86          (b) Where practical, the material alleged to be pornographic or harmful to minors shall be
             87      attached to the affidavit so as to afford the magistrate the opportunity to examine this material.
             88          (c) The summons must be served upon the corporation by delivery of it to an officer,
             89      director, managing or general agent, or cashier, or assistant cashier [thereof] of the corporation.


             90          (2) The production of material alleged to be pornographic or harmful to minors in any
             91      proceedings under this part against a corporation may be compelled by the issuance and service
             92      of a subpoena duces tecum. [It is not the intent of this] This section [to] does not prohibit or limit
             93      the use of a subpoena duces tecum in proceedings against natural persons under this part.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-7-00 1:01 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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