H.B. 411 Enrolled

             1     

VICTIM RESTITUTION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Brad R. Wilson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to the payment of restitution by a defendant.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    requires the court to maintain jurisdiction of a case and continue probation for a
             13      defendant who has unpaid accounts receivable related to fines, fees, or restitution;
             14          .    requires the Office of State Debt Collection to notify the court clerk when a civil
             15      judgment ordered for the payment of accounts receivable has been satisfied; and
             16          .    provides that, before refunding bail that is posted in cash, by credit card, or by debit
             17      card, the court shall, after applying the amount posted toward any fine ordered by
             18      the court, apply the remaining amount toward restitution.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25           77-18-1 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 366
             26           77-18-6 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             27           77-20-4 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 74
             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             30          Section 1. Section 77-18-1 is amended to read:
             31           77-18-1. Suspension of sentence -- Pleas held in abeyance -- Probation --
             32      Supervision -- Presentence investigation -- Standards -- Confidentiality -- Terms and
             33      conditions -- Termination, revocation, modification, or extension -- Hearings -- Electronic
             34      monitoring.
             35          (1) On a plea of guilty or no contest entered by a defendant in conjunction with a plea
             36      in abeyance agreement, the court may hold the plea in abeyance as provided in Title 77,
             37      Chapter 2a, Pleas in Abeyance, and under the terms of the plea in abeyance agreement.
             38          (2) (a) On a plea of guilty, guilty with a mental illness, no contest, or conviction of any
             39      crime or offense, the court may, after imposing sentence, suspend the execution of the sentence
             40      and place the defendant on probation. The court may place the defendant:
             41          (i) on probation under the supervision of the Department of Corrections except in cases
             42      of class C misdemeanors or infractions;
             43          (ii) on probation with an agency of local government or with a private organization; or
             44          (iii) on bench probation under the jurisdiction of the sentencing court.
             45          (b) (i) The legal custody of all probationers under the supervision of the department is
             46      with the department.
             47          (ii) The legal custody of all probationers under the jurisdiction of the sentencing court
             48      is vested as ordered by the court.
             49          (iii) The court has continuing jurisdiction over all probationers.
             50          (3) (a) The department shall establish supervision and presentence investigation
             51      standards for all individuals referred to the department. These standards shall be based on:
             52          (i) the type of offense;
             53          (ii) the demand for services;
             54          (iii) the availability of agency resources;
             55          (iv) the public safety; and
             56          (v) other criteria established by the department to determine what level of services
             57      shall be provided.


             58          (b) Proposed supervision and investigation standards shall be submitted to the Judicial
             59      Council and the Board of Pardons and Parole on an annual basis for review and comment prior
             60      to adoption by the department.
             61          (c) The Judicial Council and the department shall establish procedures to implement
             62      the supervision and investigation standards.
             63          (d) The Judicial Council and the department shall annually consider modifications to
             64      the standards based upon criteria in Subsection (3)(a) and other criteria as they consider
             65      appropriate.
             66          (e) The Judicial Council and the department shall annually prepare an impact report
             67      and submit it to the appropriate legislative appropriations subcommittee.
             68          (4) Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the department is not required to
             69      supervise the probation of persons convicted of class B or C misdemeanors or infractions or to
             70      conduct presentence investigation reports on class C misdemeanors or infractions. However,
             71      the department may supervise the probation of class B misdemeanants in accordance with
             72      department standards.
             73          (5) (a) Before the imposition of any sentence, the court may, with the concurrence of
             74      the defendant, continue the date for the imposition of sentence for a reasonable period of time
             75      for the purpose of obtaining a presentence investigation report from the department or
             76      information from other sources about the defendant.
             77          (b) The presentence investigation report shall include a victim impact statement
             78      according to guidelines set in Section 77-38a-203 describing the effect of the crime on the
             79      victim and the victim's family.
             80          (c) The presentence investigation report shall include a specific statement of pecuniary
             81      damages, accompanied by a recommendation from the department regarding the payment of
             82      restitution with interest by the defendant in accordance with Title 77, Chapter 38a, Crime
             83      Victims Restitution Act.
             84          (d) The presentence investigation report shall include:
             85          (i) findings from any screening and any assessment of the offender conducted under


             86      Section 77-18-1.1 ; and
             87          (ii) recommendations for treatment of the offender.
             88          (e) The contents of the presentence investigation report are protected and are not
             89      available except by court order for purposes of sentencing as provided by rule of the Judicial
             90      Council or for use by the department.
             91          (6) (a) The department shall provide the presentence investigation report to the
             92      defendant's attorney, or the defendant if not represented by counsel, the prosecutor, and the
             93      court for review, three working days prior to sentencing. Any alleged inaccuracies in the
             94      presentence investigation report, which have not been resolved by the parties and the
             95      department prior to sentencing, shall be brought to the attention of the sentencing judge, and
             96      the judge may grant an additional 10 working days to resolve the alleged inaccuracies of the
             97      report with the department. If after 10 working days the inaccuracies cannot be resolved, the
             98      court shall make a determination of relevance and accuracy on the record.
             99          (b) If a party fails to challenge the accuracy of the presentence investigation report at
             100      the time of sentencing, that matter shall be considered to be waived.
             101          (7) At the time of sentence, the court shall receive any testimony, evidence, or
             102      information the defendant or the prosecuting attorney desires to present concerning the
             103      appropriate sentence. This testimony, evidence, or information shall be presented in open court
             104      on record and in the presence of the defendant.
             105          (8) While on probation, and as a condition of probation, the court may require that the
             106      defendant:
             107          (a) perform any or all of the following:
             108          (i) pay, in one or several sums, any fine imposed at the time of being placed on
             109      probation;
             110          (ii) pay amounts required under Title 77, Chapter 32a, Defense Costs;
             111          (iii) provide for the support of others for whose support the defendant is legally liable;
             112          (iv) participate in available treatment programs, including any treatment program in
             113      which the defendant is currently participating, if the program is acceptable to the court;


             114          (v) serve a period of time, not to exceed one year, in a county jail designated by the
             115      department, after considering any recommendation by the court as to which jail the court finds
             116      most appropriate;
             117          (vi) serve a term of home confinement, which may include the use of electronic
             118      monitoring;
             119          (vii) participate in compensatory service restitution programs, including the
             120      compensatory service program provided in Section 76-6-107.1 ;
             121          (viii) pay for the costs of investigation, probation, and treatment services;
             122          (ix) make restitution or reparation to the victim or victims with interest in accordance
             123      with Title 77, Chapter 38a, Crime Victims Restitution Act; and
             124          (x) comply with other terms and conditions the court considers appropriate; and
             125          (b) if convicted on or after May 5, 1997:
             126          (i) complete high school classwork and obtain a high school graduation diploma, a
             127      GED certificate, or a vocational certificate at the defendant's own expense if the defendant has
             128      not received the diploma, GED certificate, or vocational certificate prior to being placed on
             129      probation; or
             130          (ii) provide documentation of the inability to obtain one of the items listed in
             131      Subsection (8)(b)(i) because of:
             132          (A) a diagnosed learning disability; or
             133          (B) other justified cause.
             134          (9) The department shall collect and disburse the account receivable as defined by
             135      Section 76-3-201.1 , with interest and any other costs assessed under Section 64-13-21 during:
             136          (a) the parole period and any extension of that period in accordance with Subsection
             137      77-27-6 (4); and
             138          (b) the probation period in cases for which the court orders supervised probation and
             139      any extension of that period by the department in accordance with Subsection (10).
             140          (10) (a) (i) Probation may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the court or
             141      upon completion without violation of 36 months probation in felony or class A misdemeanor


             142      cases, or 12 months in cases of class B or C misdemeanors or infractions.
             143          (ii) (A) If, upon expiration or termination of the probation period under Subsection
             144      (10)(a)(i), there remains an unpaid balance upon the account receivable as defined in Section
             145      76-3-201.1 , the court may retain jurisdiction of the case and continue the defendant on bench
             146      probation for the limited purpose of enforcing the payment of the account receivable. If the
             147      court retains jurisdiction for this limited purpose, the court may order the defendant to pay to
             148      the court the costs associated with continued probation under this Subsection (10).
             149          (B) In accordance with Section 77-18-6 , the court shall record in the registry of civil
             150      judgments any unpaid balance not already recorded and immediately transfer responsibility to
             151      collect the account to the Office of State Debt Collection.
             152          (iii) Upon motion of the Office of State Debt Collection, prosecutor, victim, or upon its
             153      own motion, the court may require the defendant to show cause why the defendant's failure to
             154      pay should not be treated as contempt of court.
             155          (b) (i) The department shall notify the sentencing court, the Office of State Debt
             156      Collection, and the prosecuting attorney in writing in advance in all cases when termination of
             157      supervised probation will occur by law.
             158          (ii) The notification shall include a probation progress report and complete report of
             159      details on outstanding accounts receivable.
             160          (11) (a) (i) Any time served by a probationer outside of confinement after having been
             161      charged with a probation violation and prior to a hearing to revoke probation does not
             162      constitute service of time toward the total probation term unless the probationer is exonerated
             163      at a hearing to revoke the probation.
             164          (ii) Any time served in confinement awaiting a hearing or decision concerning
             165      revocation of probation does not constitute service of time toward the total probation term
             166      unless the probationer is exonerated at the hearing.
             167          (b) The running of the probation period is tolled upon the filing of a violation report
             168      with the court alleging a violation of the terms and conditions of probation or upon the issuance
             169      of an order to show cause or warrant by the court.


             170          (12) (a) (i) Probation may not be modified or extended except upon waiver of a hearing
             171      by the probationer or upon a hearing and a finding in court that the probationer has violated the
             172      conditions of probation.
             173          (ii) Probation may not be revoked except upon a hearing in court and a finding that the
             174      conditions of probation have been violated.
             175          (b) (i) Upon the filing of an affidavit alleging with particularity facts asserted to
             176      constitute violation of the conditions of probation, the court that authorized probation shall
             177      determine if the affidavit establishes probable cause to believe that revocation, modification, or
             178      extension of probation is justified.
             179          (ii) If the court determines there is probable cause, it shall cause to be served on the
             180      defendant a warrant for the defendant's arrest or a copy of the affidavit and an order to show
             181      cause why the defendant's probation should not be revoked, modified, or extended.
             182          (c) (i) The order to show cause shall specify a time and place for the hearing and shall
             183      be served upon the defendant at least five days prior to the hearing.
             184          (ii) The defendant shall show good cause for a continuance.
             185          (iii) The order to show cause shall inform the defendant of a right to be represented by
             186      counsel at the hearing and to have counsel appointed if the defendant is indigent.
             187          (iv) The order shall also inform the defendant of a right to present evidence.
             188          (d) (i) At the hearing, the defendant shall admit or deny the allegations of the affidavit.
             189          (ii) If the defendant denies the allegations of the affidavit, the prosecuting attorney
             190      shall present evidence on the allegations.
             191          (iii) The persons who have given adverse information on which the allegations are
             192      based shall be presented as witnesses subject to questioning by the defendant unless the court
             193      for good cause otherwise orders.
             194          (iv) The defendant may call witnesses, appear and speak in the defendant's own behalf,
             195      and present evidence.
             196          (e) (i) After the hearing the court shall make findings of fact.
             197          (ii) Upon a finding that the defendant violated the conditions of probation, the court


             198      may order the probation revoked, modified, continued, or that the entire probation term
             199      commence anew.
             200          (iii) If probation is revoked, the defendant shall be sentenced or the sentence previously
             201      imposed shall be executed.
             202          (13) The court may order the defendant to commit himself or herself to the custody of
             203      the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for treatment at the Utah State Hospital as
             204      a condition of probation or stay of sentence, only after the superintendent of the Utah State
             205      Hospital or the superintendent's designee has certified to the court that:
             206          (a) the defendant is appropriate for and can benefit from treatment at the state hospital;
             207          (b) treatment space at the hospital is available for the defendant; and
             208          (c) persons described in Subsection 62A-15-610 (2)(g) are receiving priority for
             209      treatment over the defendants described in this Subsection (13).
             210          (14) Presentence investigation reports are classified protected in accordance with Title
             211      63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act. Notwithstanding Sections
             212      63G-2-403 and 63G-2-404 , the State Records Committee may not order the disclosure of a
             213      presentence investigation report. Except for disclosure at the time of sentencing pursuant to
             214      this section, the department may disclose the presentence investigation only when:
             215          (a) ordered by the court pursuant to Subsection 63G-2-202 (7);
             216          (b) requested by a law enforcement agency or other agency approved by the department
             217      for purposes of supervision, confinement, and treatment of the offender;
             218          (c) requested by the Board of Pardons and Parole;
             219          (d) requested by the subject of the presentence investigation report or the subject's
             220      authorized representative; or
             221          (e) requested by the victim of the crime discussed in the presentence investigation
             222      report or the victim's authorized representative, provided that the disclosure to the victim shall
             223      include only information relating to statements or materials provided by the victim, to the
             224      circumstances of the crime including statements by the defendant, or to the impact of the crime
             225      on the victim or the victim's household.


             226          (15) (a) The court shall consider home confinement as a condition of probation under
             227      the supervision of the department, except as provided in Sections 76-3-406 and 76-5-406.5 .
             228          (b) The department shall establish procedures and standards for home confinement,
             229      including electronic monitoring, for all individuals referred to the department in accordance
             230      with Subsection (16).
             231          (16) (a) If the court places the defendant on probation under this section, it may order
             232      the defendant to participate in home confinement through the use of electronic monitoring as
             233      described in this section until further order of the court.
             234          (b) The electronic monitoring shall alert the department and the appropriate law
             235      enforcement unit of the defendant's whereabouts.
             236          (c) The electronic monitoring device shall be used under conditions which require:
             237          (i) the defendant to wear an electronic monitoring device at all times; and
             238          (ii) that a device be placed in the home of the defendant, so that the defendant's
             239      compliance with the court's order may be monitored.
             240          (d) If a court orders a defendant to participate in home confinement through electronic
             241      monitoring as a condition of probation under this section, it shall:
             242          (i) place the defendant on probation under the supervision of the Department of
             243      Corrections;
             244          (ii) order the department to place an electronic monitoring device on the defendant and
             245      install electronic monitoring equipment in the residence of the defendant; and
             246          (iii) order the defendant to pay the costs associated with home confinement to the
             247      department or the program provider.
             248          (e) The department shall pay the costs of home confinement through electronic
             249      monitoring only for those persons who have been determined to be indigent by the court.
             250          (f) The department may provide the electronic monitoring described in this section
             251      either directly or by contract with a private provider.
             252          Section 2. Section 77-18-6 is amended to read:
             253           77-18-6. Judgment to pay fine or restitution constitutes a lien.


             254          (1) (a) In cases not supervised by the Department of Corrections, the clerk of the
             255      district court shall:
             256          (i) transfer the responsibility to collect past due accounts receivable to the Office of
             257      State Debt Collection when the accounts receivable are 90 days or more past due; [and]
             258          (ii) before transferring the responsibility to collect the past due account receivable to
             259      the Office of State Debt Collection, record each judgment of conviction of a crime that orders
             260      the payment of a fine, forfeiture, surcharge, cost permitted by statute, or fee in the registry of
             261      civil judgments, listing the Office of State Debt Collection as the judgment creditor[.]; and
             262          (iii) receive notification from the Office of State Debt Collection when a civil
             263      judgment ordered for payment of accounts receivable, as defined in Section 76-3-201.1 , has
             264      been satisfied.
             265          (b) (i) The clerk of court shall record each judgment of conviction that orders the
             266      payment of restitution to a victim in the registry of civil judgments, listing the victim, or the
             267      estate of the victim, as the judgment creditor.
             268          (ii) The Department of Corrections shall collect the judgment on behalf of the victim as
             269      provided in Subsection 77-18-1 (9).
             270          (iii) The court shall collect the judgment on behalf of the victim as provided in
             271      Subsection 78A-2-214 (2).
             272          (iv) The victim may collect the judgment.
             273          (v) The victim is responsible for timely renewal of the judgment under Section
             274      78B-5-202 .
             275          (2) When a fine, forfeiture, surcharge, cost, fee, or restitution is recorded in the registry
             276      of civil judgments, the judgment:
             277          (a) constitutes a lien;
             278          (b) has the same effect and is subject to the same rules as a judgment for money in a
             279      civil action; and
             280          (c) may be collected by any means authorized by law for the collection of a civil
             281      judgment.


             282          Section 3. Section 77-20-4 is amended to read:
             283           77-20-4. Bail to be posted in cash, by credit or debit card, or written undertaking.
             284          (1) Bail may be posted:
             285          (a) in cash;
             286          (b) by written undertaking with or without sureties at the discretion of the magistrate;
             287      or
             288          (c) by credit or debit card, at the discretion of the judge or bail commissioner.
             289          (2) Bail may not be accepted without receiving in writing at the time the bail is posted
             290      the current mailing address and telephone number of the surety.
             291          (3) Bail posted by debit or credit card, less the fee charged by the financial institution,
             292      shall be tendered to the courts.
             293          (4) Bail refunded by the court may be refunded by credit to the debit or credit card, or
             294      cash. The amount refunded shall be the full amount received by the court under Subsection
             295      (3), which may be less than the full amount of the bail set by the court.
             296          (5) Before refunding bail that is posted by the defendant in cash, by credit card, or by
             297      debit card, the court may apply the amount posted toward accounts receivable, as defined in
             298      Section 76-3-201.1 , that are owed by the defendant in the priority set forth in Section
             299      77-38a-404 .


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]