H.B. 22

1

HARBORING A RUNAWAY
2 2009 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Lorie D. Fowlke
5 Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 Committee Note:
9 The Judiciary Interim Committee recommended this bill.
10 General Description:
11 This bill amends the section of the Utah Criminal Code that relates to harboring a
12 runaway.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . defines terms;
16 . provides that a person who harbors a minor who is a runaway must provide notice
17 to the parent or legal guardian of the minor, the Division of Child and Family
18 Services, or, under certain circumstances, a peace officer or a detention center,
19 within eight hours from the later of the time that the person begins providing the
20 shelter or the time that the person becomes aware that the minor is a runaway;
21 . provides an affirmative defense to the crime of harboring a runaway if the person
22 fails to provide the required notice due to circumstances beyond the control of the
23 person;
24 . provides that an individual or a temporary homeless youth shelter may continue to
25 provide shelter to a runaway after providing the notice required by this bill if the
26 parent or legal guardian of the minor consents to the continued provision of shelter
27 or if the person notified fails to retrieve the runaway;

28 . clarifies that this bill does not prohibit an individual, a temporary homeless shelter,
29 or a government agency from providing shelter to an abandoned minor;
30 . clarifies that this bill does not release a person from the obligation to report abuse or
31 neglect of a child; and
32 . makes technical changes.
33 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
34 None
35 Other Special Clauses:
36 None
37 Utah Code Sections Affected:
38 AMENDS:
39 62A-4a-501, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1996, Chapter 245
40 78A-6-1001, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
41
42 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43 Section 1. Section 62A-4a-501 is amended to read:
44 62A-4a-501. Harboring a runaway -- Reporting requirements -- Division to
45 provide assistance -- Affirmative defense -- Providing shelter after notice.
46 (1) As used in this section:
47 (a) "Harbor" means to provide shelter in:
48 (i) the home of the person who is providing the shelter; or
49 (ii) any structure over which the person providing the shelter has any control.
50 (b) "Promptly" means within eight hours after the later of:
51 (i) the time that the person becomes aware that the minor is a runaway; or
52 (ii) the time that the person begins harboring the minor.
53 (c) "Receiving center" is as defined in Section 62A-7-101 .
54 (d) "Runaway" means a minor, other than an emancipated minor, who is absent from
55 the home or lawfully prescribed residence of the parent or legal guardian of the minor without
56 the permission of the parent or legal guardian.
57 (e) "Temporary homeless youth shelter" means a facility that:
58 (i) provides temporary shelter to a runaway; and

59 (ii) is licensed by the Office of Licensing, created in Section 62A-1-105 , as a
60 residential support program.
61 (f) "Youth services center" means a center established by, or under contract with, the
62 Division of Juvenile Justice Services, created in Section 62A-1-105 , to provide youth services,
63 as defined in Section 62A-7-101 .
64 [(1) Any person who]
65 (2) A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person:
66 (a) knowingly and intentionally harbors a minor [and who];
67 (b) knows at the time of harboring the minor that the minor is [away from the parent's
68 or legal guardian's home, or other lawfully prescribed residence, without the permission of the
69 parent or legal guardian, shall promptly notify the parent or legal guardian of the minor's
70 location or report the location of the minor to the division. The report may be made by
71 telephone or any other reasonable means.] a runaway; and
72 [(2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise:]
73 [(a) "Promptly" means within eight hours after the person has knowledge that the
74 minor is away from home without parental permission.]
75 [(b) "Shelter" means the person's home or any structure over which the person has any
76 control.]
77 (c) except as provided in Subsection (3), fails to promptly notify one of the following,
78 by telephone or other reasonable means, of the location of the minor:
79 (i) the parent or legal guardian of the minor; or
80 (ii) the division.
81 (3) A person described in Subsection (2) is not required to comply with Subsection
82 (2)(c), if:
83 (a) a court order is issued authorizing a peace officer to take the minor into custody;
84 and
85 (b) the person promptly notifies a peace officer or the nearest detention center, as
86 defined in Section 62A-7-101 , by telephone or other reasonable means, of the location of the
87 minor.
88 (4) It is an affirmative defense to the crime described in Subsection (2) that:
89 (a) the person failed to promptly provide notice as described in Subsection (2)(c) or (3)

90 due to circumstances beyond the control of the person providing the shelter; and
91 (b) the person provided the notice described in Subsection (2)(c) or (3) as soon as it
92 was reasonably practicable to do so.
93 [(3)] (5) Upon receipt of a report that a [minor] runaway is being harbored by a person
94 the division shall:
95 (a) notify the parent or legal guardian that a report has been made; and
96 (b) inform the parent or legal guardian of assistance available from the division.
97 [(4)] (6) A parent or legal guardian of a runaway who is aware that [his minor] the
98 runaway is being harbored may notify the division or a law enforcement agency and request
99 assistance in retrieving the [minor from the place of shelter] runaway. The division or local
100 law enforcement agency may assist the parent or legal guardian in retrieving the [minor]
101 runaway.
102 [(5) Any person who knowingly and intentionally harbors a minor and who knows at
103 the time of harboring the minor that the minor is away from the parent's or legal guardian's
104 home, or other lawfully prescribed residence, without the permission of the parent or guardian
105 and without making the notification required by this section is guilty of a class B
106 misdemeanor.]
107 (7) Nothing in this section prohibits an individual or a temporary homeless youth
108 shelter from continuing to provide shelter to a runaway, after giving the notice described in
109 Subsection (2)(c) or (3), if:
110 (a) a parent or legal guardian of the minor consents to the continued provision of
111 shelter; or
112 (b) a peace officer or a parent or legal guardian of the minor fails to retrieve the
113 runaway.
114 (8) Nothing in this section prohibits an individual or a temporary homeless youth
115 shelter from providing shelter to a non-emancipated minor whose parents or legal guardians
116 have intentionally:
117 (a) ceased to maintain physical custody of the minor;
118 (b) failed to make reasonable arrangements for the safety, care, and physical custody of
119 the minor; and
120 (c) failed to provide the minor with food, shelter, or clothing.

121 (9) Nothing in this section prohibits:
122 (a) a receiving center or a youth services center from providing shelter to a runaway in
123 accordance with the requirements of Title 62A, Chapter 7, Juvenile Justice Services, and the
124 rules relating to a receiving center or a youth services center; or
125 (b) a government agency from taking custody of a minor as otherwise provided by law.
126 (10) Nothing in this section releases a person from the obligation, under Section
127 62A-4a-403 , to report abuse or neglect of a child.
128 Section 2. Section 78A-6-1001 is amended to read:
129 78A-6-1001. Jurisdiction over adults for offenses against minors -- Proof of
130 delinquency not required for conviction.
131 (1) The court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with the district court or justice court
132 otherwise having subject matter jurisdiction, to try adults for the following offenses committed
133 against minors:
134 (a) unlawful sale or supply of alcohol beverage or product to minors in violation of
135 Section 32A-12-203 ;
136 (b) failure to report abuse or neglect, as required by Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 4,
137 Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Requirements;
138 (c) harboring a [minor] runaway in violation of Section 62A-4a-501 ;
139 (d) misdemeanor custodial interference in violation of Section 76-5-303 ;
140 (e) contributing to the delinquency of a minor in violation of Section 76-10-2301 ; and
141 (f) failure to comply with compulsory education requirements in violation of Section
142 53A-11-101.5 .
143 (2) It is not necessary for the minor to be found to be delinquent or to have committed
144 a delinquent act for the court to exercise jurisdiction under Subsection (1).




Legislative Review Note
as of 9-17-08 1:17 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel