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S.B. 240

             1     

DECRIMINALIZATION OF TRAFFIC

             2     
OFFENSES

             3     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS IN GENERAL; PROHIBITING COUNTIES AND
             7      MUNICIPALITIES FROM DECRIMINALIZING TRAFFIC OFFENSES; PROVIDING
             8      GRANDFATHERING FOR CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE TRAFFIC PROCEEDINGS;
             9      CREATING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND APPEALS; CREATING A TASK
             10      FORCE TO STUDY THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES; PROVIDING
             11      FOR MEMBERSHIP; DELINEATING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PROVIDING A
             12      REPORTING DATE; APPROPRIATING $34,500 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL
             13      YEAR 2000-01 ONLY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING A REPEAL
             14      DATE.
             15      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             16      AMENDS:
             17          10-3-703, as last amended by Chapter 178, Laws of Utah 1986
             18          10-8-84, as last amended by Chapter 178, Laws of Utah 1986
             19          17-5-263, as renumbered and amended by Chapters 146 and 147, Laws of Utah 1994
             20          21-1-5, as last amended by Chapter 309, Laws of Utah 1999
             21          53-3-218, as last amended by Chapter 216, Laws of Utah 1999
             22          63-63a-1, as last amended by Chapter 94, Laws of Utah 1998
             23          63-63a-2, as last amended by Chapter 198, Laws of Utah 1996
             24          78-3-4, as last amended by Chapter 313, Laws of Utah 1998
             25      ENACTS:
             26          10-3-703.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27          10-3-703.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          63-55-210, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29      This act enacts uncodified material.
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 10-3-703 is amended to read:
             32           10-3-703. Criminal penalties for violation of ordinance -- Civil penalties prohibited
             33      -- Exceptions.
             34          [Unless otherwise specifically authorized by statute, the]
             35          (1) The governing body of each municipality may [provide a] impose a minimum criminal
             36      penalty for the violation of any municipal ordinance by a fine not to exceed the maximum class
             37      B misdemeanor fine under Section 76-3-301 or by a term of imprisonment up to six months, or by
             38      both the fine and term of imprisonment. [The]
             39          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the governing body may prescribe a
             40      minimum civil penalty for the violation of any municipal ordinance [and may impose] by a fine
             41      not to exceed the maximum class B misdemeanor fine under Section 76-3-301 .
             42          (b) A municipality may not impose a civil penalty and adjudication for [the unauthorized
             43      use of municipal property, including, but not limited to, the use of parks, streets, and other public
             44      grounds or equipment. Rules of civil procedure shall be substantially followed.] the violation of
             45      a municipal moving traffic ordinance, except as authorized in Section 10-3-703.5 .
             46          Section 2. Section 10-3-703.5 is enacted to read:
             47          10-3-703.5. Civil penalty for violation of municipal ordinance -- Administrative
             48      traffic proceedings -- Appeals.
             49          (1) As used in this section, "municipality" means a municipality of the first class, as
             50      defined in Section 10-2-301 , that had ordinances in effect on or before January 1, 2000 that
             51      provide a civil penalty for and administrative adjudication of moving traffic violations.
             52          (2) (a) A municipality may, by ordinance, impose a civil penalty and provide adjudication
             53      for a violation of a municipal moving traffic ordinance, including regulations described in Section
             54      41-6-17 , through an administrative traffic proceeding.
             55          (b) The default civil penalty for a municipal traffic ordinance shall be consistent with the
             56      uniform bail schedule adopted by the Judicial Council.
             57          (c) A civil traffic violation constitutes a public offense for purposes of Section 77-7-15 and
             58      may be enforced as provided in that section.


             59          (3) An administrative traffic proceeding:
             60          (a) shall, except as provided in this section, be conducted in accordance with Section
             61      10-3-703.7 ; and
             62          (b) may not be held for a violation of Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 5, Driving While
             63      Intoxicated and Reckless Driving, or a traffic violation that occurs in conjunction with another
             64      criminal violation as part of a single criminal episode that will be prosecuted in a criminal
             65      proceeding.
             66          (4) If a final administrative determination in an administrative traffic proceeding is for a
             67      violation:
             68          (a) the civil penalty is subject to the fees or surcharges established in Subsections
             69      21-1-5 (2)(d)(ii) and 63-63a-1 (1)(b)(ii);
             70          (b) the final administrative determination constitutes a conviction as defined in Section
             71      53-3-102 ; and
             72          (c) the final administrative determination may be appealed by a party in accordance with
             73      Section 10-3-703.7 .
             74          Section 3. Section 10-3-703.7 is enacted to read:
             75          10-3-703.7. Administrative proceedings -- Procedures -- Appeals.
             76          (1) As used in this section, "administrative proceeding" means an adjudicative hearing for
             77      a violation of a civil municipal ordinance, including an administrative traffic proceeding
             78      authorized in Section 10-3-703.5 .
             79          (2) An administrative proceeding:
             80          (a) shall be a public meeting with business transacted during regularly scheduled hours;
             81          (b) shall be conducted by an administrative law judge;
             82          (c) shall provide due process for the parties; and
             83          (d) may not be held for a civil violation that occurs in conjunction with another criminal
             84      violation as part of a single criminal episode that will be prosecuted in a criminal proceeding.
             85          (3) An administrative law judge:
             86          (a) shall be appointed by the municipality to conduct administrative proceedings;
             87          (b) may be an employee of the municipality; and
             88          (c) shall make a final administrative determination for each administrative proceeding.
             89          (4) (a) A final administrative determination under this section may be an order for the


             90      municipality to abate the violation.
             91          (b) If a final administrative determination under this section is for a violation, the final
             92      administrative determination may be appealed by a party in accordance with Subsection (5).
             93          (5) (a) (i) Any person adversely affected by an administrative proceeding may petition a
             94      district court for review of the administrative determination.
             95          (ii) In the petition, the petitioner may only allege that the administrative proceeding's
             96      decision was arbitrary, capricious, or illegal.
             97          (iii) The petition is barred unless it is filed within 30 days after the administrative
             98      determination is final.
             99          (b) (i) The administrative proceeding shall transmit to the reviewing district court the
             100      record of its proceedings, including its minutes, findings, orders, and, if available, a true and
             101      correct transcript of its proceedings.
             102          (ii) If the proceeding was recorded, a transcript of the recording is a true and correct
             103      transcript for purposes of this section.
             104          (c) (i) If there is a record, the district court's review is limited to the record provided by the
             105      administrative proceeding.
             106          (ii) The district court may not accept or consider any evidence that is not included in the
             107      administrative proceeding's record unless the evidence was offered to the administrative
             108      proceeding and the district court determines that the evidence was improperly excluded by the
             109      administrative proceeding.
             110          Section 4. Section 10-8-84 is amended to read:
             111           10-8-84. Ordinances, rules, and regulations -- Passage -- Penalties.
             112          [They] (1) The municipal legislative body may pass all ordinances and rules, and make all
             113      regulations, not repugnant to law, necessary for carrying into effect or discharging all powers and
             114      duties conferred by this chapter, and as are necessary and proper to provide for the safety and
             115      preserve the health, and promote the prosperity, improve the morals, peace and good order,
             116      comfort, and convenience of the city and its inhabitants, and for the protection of property in the
             117      city[; and].
             118          (2) The municipal legislative body may enforce obedience to the ordinances with fines or
             119      penalties [as they may deem proper, but the punishment of any offense shall be by fine not to
             120      exceed the maximum class B misdemeanor fine under Section 76-3-301 or by imprisonment not


             121      to exceed six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment] in accordance with Section 10-3-703 .
             122          Section 5. Section 17-5-263 is amended to read:
             123           17-5-263. Ordinances -- Power to enact -- Penalty for violation.
             124          (1) The county legislative body may pass all ordinances and rules and make all regulations,
             125      not repugnant to law, necessary for carrying into effect or discharging the powers and duties
             126      conferred by this title, and as are necessary and proper to provide for the safety, and preserve the
             127      health, promote the prosperity, improve the morals, peace, and good order, comfort, and
             128      convenience of the county and its inhabitants, and for the protection of property in the county[;
             129      and].
             130          (2) The county legislative body may enforce obedience to ordinances with fines or
             131      penalties as the county legislative body considers proper, provided that the punishment of any
             132      offense shall be by fine, not to exceed the maximum fine for a class B misdemeanor under Section
             133      76-3-301 , imprisonment, or by both fine and imprisonment.
             134          (3) The county legislative body may pass ordinances to control air pollution.
             135          (4) (a) Except as specifically authorized by statute, the county legislative body may not
             136      impose a civil penalty for the violation of a county traffic ordinance.
             137          (b) Subsection (4)(a) does not apply to an ordinance regulating the parking of vehicles on
             138      a highway.
             139          Section 6. Section 21-1-5 is amended to read:
             140           21-1-5. Civil fees of the courts of record -- Courts complex design.
             141          (1) (a) The fee for filing any civil complaint or petition invoking the jurisdiction of a court
             142      of record not governed by another subsection is $120.
             143          (b) The fee for filing a complaint or petition is:
             144          (i) $37 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs, interest,
             145      and attorney fees is $2,000 or less;
             146          (ii) $80 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             147      interest, and attorney fees is greater than $2,000 and less than $10,000;
             148          (iii) $120 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader is $10,000 or more; and
             149          (iv) $80 if the petition is filed under Title 30, Chapter 3, Divorce, or Title 30, Chapter 4,
             150      Separate Maintenance.
             151          (c) The fee for filing a small claims affidavit is:


             152          (i) $37 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs, interest,
             153      and attorney fees is $2,000 or less; and
             154          (ii) $60 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             155      interest, and attorney fees is greater than $2,000.
             156          (d) The fee for filing a counter claim, cross claim, complaint in intervention, third party
             157      complaint, or other claim for relief against an existing or joined party other than the original
             158      complaint or petition is:
             159          (i) $45 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is $2,000
             160      or less;
             161          (ii) $60 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is greater
             162      than $2,000 and less than $10,000;
             163          (iii) $90 if the original petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a) or when the claim for relief
             164      is $10,000 or more; and
             165          (iv) $60 if the original petition is filed under Title 30, Chapter 3, Divorce, or Title 30,
             166      Chapter 4, Separate Maintenance.
             167          (e) The fee for filing a small claims counter affidavit is:
             168          (i) $35 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is $2,000
             169      or less; and
             170          (ii) $50 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is greater
             171      than $2,000.
             172          (f) The fee for depositing funds under Section 57-1-29 when not associated with an action
             173      already before the court is determined under Subsection (1)(b) based on the amount deposited.
             174          (g) The fee for filing a petition is:
             175          (i) $70 for trial de novo of an adjudication of the justice court or of the small claims
             176      department [is $70.]; and
             177          (ii) $40 for an appeal of a municipal administrative determination in accordance with
             178      Section 10-3-703.7 .
             179          (h) The fee for filing a notice of appeal, petition for appeal of an interlocutory order, or
             180      petition for writ of certiorari is $190.
             181          (i) (i) Except for a petition filed under Subsection 77-18-10 (2), the fee for filing a petition
             182      for expungement is $50.


             183          (ii) There is no fee for a petition filed under Subsection 77-18-10 (2).
             184          (j) (i) Fifteen dollars of the fees established by Subsections (1)(a) through (i) shall be
             185      allocated to the Judges' Retirement Trust Fund, as provided in Title 49, Chapter 6, Judges'
             186      Retirement Act.
             187          (ii) Two dollars of the fees established by Subsections (1)(a) through (i) shall be allocated
             188      by the state treasurer to be deposited in the restricted account, Children's Legal Defense Account,
             189      as provided in Section 63-63a-8 .
             190          (iii) One dollar of the fees established under Subsections (1)(a) through (e), (1)(g), and
             191      (1)(r) shall be allocated to and deposited with the Dispute Resolution Fund as provided in Section
             192      78-31b-9 .
             193          (k) The fee for filing a judgment, order, or decree of a court of another state or of the
             194      United States is $25.
             195          (l) The fee for filing probate or child custody documents from another state is $25.
             196          (m) (i) The fee for filing an abstract or transcript of judgment, order, or decree of the Utah
             197      State Tax Commission is $30.
             198          (ii) The fee for filing an abstract or transcript of judgment of a court of law of this state
             199      or a judgment, order, or decree of an administrative agency, commission, board, council, or hearing
             200      officer of this state or of its political subdivisions other than the Utah State Tax Commission, is
             201      $40.
             202          (n) The fee for filing a judgment by confession without action under Section 78-22-3 is
             203      $25.
             204          (o) The fee for filing an award of arbitration for confirmation, modification, or vacation
             205      under Title 78, Chapter 31a, Utah Arbitration Act, that is not part of an action before the court is
             206      $25.
             207          (p) The fee for filing a petition or counter-petition to modify a decree of divorce is $30.
             208          (q) The fee for filing any accounting required by law is:
             209          (i) $10 for an estate valued at $50,000 or less;
             210          (ii) $20 for an estate valued at $75,000 or less but more than $50,000;
             211          (iii) $40 for an estate valued at $112,000 or less but more than $75,000;
             212          (iv) $80 for an estate valued at $168,000 or less but more than $112,000; and
             213          (v) $150 for an estate valued at more than $168,000.


             214          (r) The fee for filing a demand for a civil jury is $50.
             215          (s) The fee for filing a notice of deposition in this state concerning an action pending in
             216      another state under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 26 is $25.
             217          (t) The fee for filing documents that require judicial approval but are not part of an action
             218      before the court is $25.
             219          (u) The fee for a petition to open a sealed record is $25.
             220          (v) The fee for a writ of replevin, attachment, execution, or garnishment is $20 in addition
             221      to any fee for a complaint or petition.
             222          (w) The fee for a petition for authorization for a minor to marry required by Section 30-1-9
             223      is $5.
             224          (x) The fee for a certificate issued under Section 26-2-25 is $2.
             225          (y) The fee for a certified copy of a document is $2 per document plus 50 cents per page.
             226          (z) The fee for an exemplified copy of a document is $4 per document plus 50 cents per
             227      page.
             228          (aa) The Judicial Council shall by rule establish a schedule of fees for copies of documents
             229      and forms and for the search and retrieval of records under Title 63, Chapter 2, Government
             230      Records Access and Management Act. Fees under this subsection shall be credited to the court
             231      as a reimbursement of expenditures.
             232          (bb) There is no fee for services or the filing of documents not listed in this section or
             233      otherwise provided by law.
             234          (cc) Except as provided in this section, all fees collected under this section are paid to the
             235      General Fund. Except as provided in this section, all fees shall be paid at the time the clerk accepts
             236      the pleading for filing or performs the requested service.
             237          (dd) The filing fees under this section may not be charged to the state, its agencies, or
             238      political subdivisions filing or defending any action. In judgments awarded in favor of the state,
             239      its agencies, or political subdivisions, except the Office of Recovery Services, the court shall order
             240      the filing fees and collection costs to be paid by the judgment debtor. The sums collected under
             241      this subsection shall be applied to the fees after credit to the judgment, order, fine, tax, lien, or
             242      other penalty and costs permitted by law.
             243          (2) (a) (i) From March 17, 1994 until June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts shall
             244      transfer all revenues representing the difference between the fees in effect after May 2, 1994, and


             245      the fees in effect before February 1, 1994, as dedicated credits to the Division of Facilities
             246      Construction and Management Capital Projects Fund.
             247          (ii) (A) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(B), the Division of Facilities
             248      Construction and Management shall use up to $3,750,000 of the revenue deposited in the Capital
             249      Projects Fund under this Subsection (2)(a) to design and take other actions necessary to initiate the
             250      development of a courts complex in Salt Lake City.
             251          (B) If the Legislature approves funding for construction of a courts complex in Salt Lake
             252      City in the 1995 Annual General Session, the Division of Facilities Construction and Management
             253      shall use the revenue deposited in the Capital Projects Fund under Subsection (2)(a)(ii) to construct
             254      a courts complex in Salt Lake City.
             255          (C) After the courts complex is completed and all bills connected with its construction
             256      have been paid, the Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall use any monies
             257      remaining in the Capital Projects Fund under Subsection (2)(a)(ii) to fund the Vernal District Court
             258      building.
             259          (iii) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management may enter into agreements
             260      and make expenditures related to this project before the receipt of revenues provided for under this
             261      Subsection (2)(a)(iii).
             262          (iv) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall:
             263          (A) make those expenditures from unexpended and unencumbered building funds already
             264      appropriated to the Capital Projects Fund; and
             265          (B) reimburse the Capital Projects Fund upon receipt of the revenues provided for under
             266      this Subsection (2).
             267          (b) After June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts shall ensure that all revenues
             268      representing the difference between the fees in effect after May 2, 1994, and the fees in effect
             269      before February 1, 1994, are transferred to the Division of Finance for deposit in the restricted
             270      account.
             271          (c) The Division of Finance shall deposit all revenues received from the court
             272      administrator into the restricted account created by this section.
             273          (d) (i) From May 1, 1995 until June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts shall transfer
             274      $7 of the amount of a fine or bail forfeiture paid for a violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, in a
             275      court of record to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management Capital Projects Fund.


             276      The division of money pursuant to Section 78-3-14.5 shall be calculated on the balance of the fine
             277      or bail forfeiture paid.
             278          (ii) After June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts or a municipality shall transfer $7
             279      of the amount of a fine or bail forfeiture paid for a violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, in a court
             280      of record or an administrative traffic proceeding in accordance with Section 10-3-703.5 to the
             281      Division of Finance for deposit in the restricted account created by this section. The division of
             282      money pursuant to Section 78-3-14.5 shall be calculated on the balance of the fine or bail forfeiture
             283      paid.
             284          (3) (a) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the State
             285      Courts Complex Account.
             286          (b) The Legislature may appropriate monies from the restricted account to the
             287      administrator of the courts for the following purposes only:
             288          (i) to repay costs associated with the construction of the court complex that were funded
             289      from sources other than revenues provided for under this Subsection (3)(b)(i); and
             290          (ii) to cover operations and maintenance costs on the court complex.
             291          Section 7. Section 53-3-218 is amended to read:
             292           53-3-218. Court to report convictions and may recommend suspension of license --
             293      Severity of speeding violation defined.
             294          (1) [In] As used in this section[,]:
             295          (a) "conviction" means conviction by the court of first impression or final administrative
             296      determination in an administrative traffic proceeding; and
             297          (b) "court" includes an administrative traffic proceeding in accordance with Section
             298      10-3-703.5 .
             299          (2) A court having jurisdiction over offenses committed under this chapter or any other
             300      law of this state, or under any [city] municipal ordinance regulating driving motor vehicles on
             301      highways, shall forward to the division within ten days, an abstract of the court record of the
             302      conviction or plea held in abeyance of any person in the court for a reportable traffic violation of
             303      any laws or ordinances, and may recommend the suspension of the license of the person convicted.
             304          (3) The abstract shall be made upon a form approved and furnished by the division and
             305      shall include:
             306          (a) the name and address of the party charged;


             307          (b) the number of his license certificate, if any;
             308          (c) the registration number of the motor vehicle involved;
             309          (d) whether the motor vehicle was a commercial motor vehicle;
             310          (e) whether the motor vehicle carried hazardous materials;
             311          (f) the nature of the offense;
             312          (g) the date of the hearing;
             313          (h) the plea;
             314          (i) the judgment or whether bail was forfeited; and
             315          (j) the severity of the violation, which shall be graded by the court as "minimum,"
             316      "intermediate," or "maximum" as established in accordance with Subsection 53-3-221 (4).
             317          (4) When a convicted person secures a judgment of acquittal or reversal in any appellate
             318      court after conviction in the court of first impression, the division shall reinstate his license
             319      immediately upon receipt of a certified copy of the judgment of acquittal or reversal.
             320          Section 8. Section 63-55-210 is enacted to read:
             321          63-55-210. Repeal dates, Title 10.
             322          Section 10-3-703.5 is repealed July 1, 2001.
             323          Section 9. Section 63-63a-1 is amended to read:
             324           63-63a-1. Surcharge -- Application and exemptions.
             325          (1) (a) A surcharge shall be paid on:
             326          (i) all criminal fines, penalties, and forfeitures imposed by the courts[.]; and
             327          (ii) a civil fine imposed by an administrative traffic proceeding in accordance with Section
             328      10-3-703.5 .
             329          (b) The surcharge shall be:
             330          (i) 85% upon conviction of a:
             331          (A) felony;
             332          (B) class A misdemeanor;
             333          (C) violation of Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 5, Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless
             334      Driving; or
             335          (D) class B misdemeanor not classified within Title 41, Motor Vehicles, including
             336      violation of comparable county or municipal ordinances; or
             337          (ii) 35% upon conviction of any other offense, including violation of county or municipal


             338      ordinances not subject to the 85% surcharge.
             339          (2) The surcharge [shall] may not be imposed:
             340          (a) upon nonmoving traffic violations;
             341          (b) upon court orders when the offender is ordered to perform compensatory service work
             342      in lieu of paying a fine; and
             343          (c) upon penalties assessed by the juvenile court as part of the nonjudicial adjustment of
             344      a case under Section 78-3a-502 .
             345          (3) (a) The surcharge and the exceptions under Subsections (1) and (2) also apply to all
             346      fines, penalties, and forfeitures imposed on juveniles for conduct that would be criminal if
             347      committed by an adult.
             348          (b) However, the surcharge does not include amounts assessed or collected separately by
             349      juvenile courts for the Juvenile Restitution Account, which is independent of this chapter and does
             350      not affect the imposition or collection of the surcharge.
             351          (4) The surcharge under this section shall be imposed in addition to the fine charged for
             352      a civil or criminal offense, and no reduction may be made in the fine charged due to the surcharge
             353      imposition.
             354          (5) Fees, assessments, and surcharges related to criminal or traffic offenses shall be
             355      authorized and managed by this chapter rather than attached to particular offenses.
             356          Section 10. Section 63-63a-2 is amended to read:
             357           63-63a-2. Division of collected monies retained by state treasurer and local
             358      governmental collecting entity -- Purpose of surcharge -- Allocation of collections -- Financial
             359      information.
             360          (1) The amount of the surcharge imposed under this chapter by courts of record shall be
             361      collected before any fine and deposited with the state treasurer.
             362          (2) The amount of the surcharge and the amount of criminal fines, civil fines, penalties,
             363      and forfeitures imposed under this chapter by courts not of record and administrative traffic
             364      proceedings in accordance with Section 10-3-703.5 shall be collected concurrently.
             365          (a) As monies are collected on criminal fines, civil fines, penalties, and forfeitures subject
             366      to the 85% surcharge, the monies shall be divided pro rata so that the local governmental collecting
             367      entity retains 54% of the collected monies and the state retains 46% of the collected monies.
             368          (b) As monies are collected on criminal fines, civil fines, penalties, and forfeitures subject


             369      to the 35% surcharge, the monies shall be divided pro rata so that the local governmental collecting
             370      entity retains 74% of the collected monies and the state retains 26% of the collected monies.
             371          (c) The court shall deposit with the state treasurer the surcharge portion of all monies as
             372      they are collected.
             373          (3) Courts of record [and], courts not of record, and administrative traffic proceedings shall
             374      collect financial information to determine:
             375          (a) the total number of cases in which:
             376          (i) a final judgment has been rendered;
             377          (ii) surcharges and fines are paid by partial or installment payment; and
             378          (iii) the judgment is fulfilled by an alternative method upon the court's order;
             379          (b) the total dollar amounts of surcharges owed to the state and fines owed to the state and
             380      county or municipality, including:
             381          (i) waived surcharges;
             382          (ii) uncollected surcharges; and
             383          (iii) collected surcharges.
             384          (4) The courts of record [and], courts not of record, and administrative traffic proceedings
             385      shall report all collected financial information monthly to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
             386      The collected information shall be categorized by cases subject to the 85 % and 35% surcharge.
             387          (5) The purpose of the surcharge is to finance the trust funds and support accounts as
             388      provided in this chapter.
             389          (6) (a) From the surcharge, the Division of Finance shall allocate in the manner and for
             390      the purposes described in Sections 63-63a-3 through 63-63a-9 .
             391          (b) The balance of the collected surcharge shall be deposited in the General Fund.
             392          (c) Allocations shall be made on a fiscal year basis.
             393          (7) The provisions of Sections 63-63a-1 and 63-63a-2 may not impact the distribution and
             394      allocation of fines and forfeitures imposed in accordance with Sections 23-14-13 , 78-3-14.5 , and
             395      78-5-116 .
             396          Section 11. Section 78-3-4 is amended to read:
             397           78-3-4. Jurisdiction -- Appeals.
             398          (1) The district court has original jurisdiction in all matters civil and criminal, not excepted
             399      in the Utah Constitution and not prohibited by law.


             400          (2) The district court judges may issue all extraordinary writs and other writs necessary
             401      to carry into effect their orders, judgments, and decrees.
             402          (3) The district court has jurisdiction over matters of lawyer discipline consistent with the
             403      rules of the Supreme Court.
             404          (4) The district court has jurisdiction over all matters properly filed in the circuit court
             405      prior to July 1, 1996.
             406          (5) The district court has appellate jurisdiction to adjudicate trials de novo of the
             407      judgments of the justice court and of the small claims department of the district court.
             408          (6) Appeals from the final orders, judgments, and decrees of the district court are under
             409      Sections 78-2-2 and 78-2a-3 .
             410          (7) The district court has jurisdiction to review:
             411          (a) agency adjudicative proceedings as set forth in Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative
             412      Procedures Act, and shall comply with the requirements of that chapter, in its review of agency
             413      adjudicative proceedings; and
             414          (b) municipal administrative proceedings in accordance with Section 10-3-703.7 .
             415          (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), the district court has subject matter jurisdiction in
             416      class B misdemeanors, class C misdemeanors, infractions, and violations of ordinances only if:
             417          (a) there is no justice court with territorial jurisdiction;
             418          (b) the matter was properly filed in the circuit court prior to July 1, 1996;
             419          (c) the offense occurred within the boundaries of the municipality in which the district
             420      courthouse is located and that municipality has not formed a justice court; or
             421          (d) they are included in an indictment or information covering a single criminal episode
             422      alleging the commission of a felony or a class A misdemeanor.
             423          Section 12. Establishment of task force -- Membership -- Chair -- Quorum --
             424      Expenses -- Salary -- Staff.
             425          (1) There is established a Decriminalization of Traffic Offenses Task Force consisting of
             426      the following members:
             427          (a) five members of the House of Representatives, no more than three of whom may be
             428      from the same party, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
             429          (b) three members of the Senate, no more than two of whom may be from the same party,
             430      appointed by the president of the Senate.


             431          (2) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed to the
             432      task force under Subsection (1) as one cochair of the task force, and the speaker of the House of
             433      Representatives shall designate a member of the House of Representatives appointed to the task
             434      force under Subsection (1) to be the other cochair of the task force.
             435          (3) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
             436      interim committees.
             437          (4) Legislators on the task force shall receive compensation and expenses in accordance
             438      with Section 36-2-2 and Joint Rule 15.03.
             439          (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to
             440      the task force.
             441          Section 13. Duties -- Report to interim committee.
             442          (1) The task force shall review, study, and make recommendations concerning:
             443          (a) the decriminalization of traffic offenses, including administrative adjudication
             444      proceedings and related fiscal issues;
             445          (b) the oversight of the administrative proceedings, including oversight of the conduct of
             446      administrative law judges; and
             447          (c) other related issues of interest to the task force.
             448          (2) A final report, including any proposed legislation, shall be presented to the Judiciary
             449      and the Transportation Interim Committees before November 30, 2000.
             450          Section 14. Appropriation.
             451          There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2000-01 only:
             452          (1) $3,500 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the task
             453      force;
             454          (2) $6,000 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses of
             455      representatives on the task force; and
             456          (3) $25,000 to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to pay for staffing
             457      the task force.
             458          Section 15. Effective date.
             459          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this act takes effect
             460      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             461      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto, the


             462      date of veto override.
             463          Section 16. Repeal date.
             464          Sections 11, 12, and 13 of this act are repealed November 30, 2000.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-11-00 9:35 AM


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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