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S.C.R. 11

             1     

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE NATIONAL DEFENSE

             2     
AUTHORIZATION ACT

             3     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             6     
House Sponsor: Daniel McCay

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses strong
             11      disapproval of portions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
             12      2012.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This resolution:
             15          .    expresses disapproval of Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense
             16      Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which authorizes:
             17              .    military detention without trial for suspected terrorists; and
             18              .    trial by military commission or transfer to a foreign country of persons detained;
             19      and
             20          .    urges Congress to repeal Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense
             21      Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.
             22      Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24     
             25      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             26          WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States passed the National Defense
             27      Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 ("2012 NDAA") on December 15, 2011;


             28          WHEREAS, the President of the United States of America signed the 2012 NDAA into
             29      law on December 31, 2011;
             30          WHEREAS, Section 1021 of the 2012 NDAA affirms the authority of the Armed
             31      Forces of the United States to detain covered persons pending disposition under the law of war
             32      and defines covered persons to include persons associated with the attacks on September 11,
             33      2001 or members and supporters of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or other associated forces that are
             34      engaged in hostilities against the United States;
             35          WHEREAS, Section 1021 of the 2012 NDAA states that disposition under the law of
             36      war includes detention without trial until the end of hostilities, trial by military commission,
             37      and transfer to the custody of the person's country of origin or any other foreign country or
             38      entity;
             39          WHEREAS, Section 1022 of the 2012 NDAA requires that members of al-Qaeda
             40      captured in the course of hostilities be detained in military custody pending disposition under
             41      the laws of war, except that it is not a requirement to detain a citizen of the United States or
             42      lawful resident alien of the United States on the basis of conduct taking place within the United
             43      States;
             44          WHEREAS, there is uncertainty whether Sections 1021 and 1022 could be used to
             45      authorize indefinite military detention of United States citizens, legal permanent residents, and
             46      others without charge or trial within the United States;
             47          WHEREAS, Section 1021 could be used to allow the President to determine whether or
             48      not a trial, and what type of trial, will be held for those arrested under the authority of the 2012
             49      NDAA;
             50          WHEREAS, the indefinite military detention of any person in the United States without
             51      charge or trial violates the right to be free from deprivation of life, liberty, or property without
             52      due process of law guaranteed by the United States Constitution, Amendment V and Utah
             53      Constitution, Article I, Section 14;
             54          WHEREAS, the indefinite military detention of any person within the United States
             55      without trial violates the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury guaranteed by the United
             56      States Constitution, Amendment V and Utah Constitution, Article I, Section 12; and
             57          WHEREAS, it is indisputable that the threat of terrorism is real and that the full force
             58      of appropriate and constitutional law must be used to defeat this threat; however, winning the


             59      war against terror cannot come at the great expense of mitigating basic, fundamental,
             60      constitutional rights:
             61          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah, the
             62      Governor concurring therein, expresses strong disapproval of Sections 1021 and 1022 of the
             63      2012 NDAA.
             64          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah, the Governor
             65      concurring therein, urges the United States Congress to repeal Sections 1021 and 1022 of the
             66      2012 NDAA.
             67          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should be sent to the
             68      Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of
             69      Representatives, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-20-12 3:50 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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