| Members Present: Sen. Don L. Ipson, Chair Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Brian Zehnder Rep. Cheryl K. Acton Rep. Brad M. Daw Rep. Kelly B. Miles Rep. Paul Ray Rep. Edward H. Redd Rep. Angela Romero Rep. Casey Snider Rep. Raymond P. Ward | Rep. Elizabeth Weight Members Absent: President Wayne L. Niederhauser Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher Rep. Sandra Hollins Rep. Eric K. Hutchings Staff Present: Mr. John Feinauer, Policy Analyst Ms. Esther Chelsea-McCarty, Associate General Counsel Ms. Ericka A. Evans, Associate General Counsel Ms. Tracey Fredman, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the
meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Perry called the meeting to order at 8:38 a.m. |
| 1. Committee Business |
| MOTION: Sen. Ipson moved to approve the minutes of the October 17, 2018, meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays-0 | Abs-6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Miles Rep. L. Perry Rep. P. Ray Rep. E. Redd Rep. A. Romero Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Ward Rep. E. Weight Sen. B. Zehnder | Rep. B. Daw Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Hollins Rep. E. Hutchings Sen. W. Niederhauser Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 2. Murder Defense Amendments |
| Representative Angela Romero introduced draft legislation "Murder Defense Amendments" (2019FL-0191/006). |
| 2 - Draft Legislation, Murder Defense Amendments |
| 2b - Murder Defense Amendment Fact Sheet |
| Mr. William Hains, Office of the Attorney General, highlighted the provisions of the bill. |
| Mr. Fred Voros, retired judge, spoke in support of the legislation. |
| Mr. Steve Burton, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, discussed concerns with language in the bill. |
| No action was taken on this agenda item. |
| 3. Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force |
| Mr. John Feinauer, Policy Analyst, presented the Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force 2018 Final Report. |
| 3a - Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force 2018 Final Report |
| Sen. Karen Mayne discussed the background and the work of the Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force. |
| Rep. Ray presented the provisions of draft legislation "Criminal Code Task Force Amendments" (2019-0549/006). |
| 3b - Draft Legislation, Criminal Code Task Force Amendments |
| MOTION: Rep. Ward moved to recommend draft legislation "Criminal Code Task Force Amendments" (2019FL-0549/006) as a committee bill. The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays-0 | Abs-5 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. B. Daw Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Miles Rep. L. Perry Rep. P. Ray Rep. A. Romero Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Ward Rep. E. Weight Sen. B. Zehnder | Rep. S. Hollins Rep. E. Hutchings Sen. W. Niederhauser Rep. E. Redd Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 4. Weapons Restrictions Amendments |
| Representative Norman K. Thurston presented draft legislation "Weapons Restrictions Amendments." |
| 4 - Draft Legislation, Weapons Restrictions Amendments |
| No action was taken on this agenda item. |
| 5. Distracted Driver Amendments |
| Rep. Carol Moss presented the provisions of draft legislation "Distracted Driver Amendments" (2019FL-0079/007). |
| 5a - 2016 Utah Crash Facts |
| 5b - Draft Legislation, Distracted Driver Amendments |
| Chief Tom Ross, Bountiful City Police, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Mr. Terry Marase, citizen, commented on the distractions caused by texting while driving. |
| Mr. Greg Douglas, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, reported that as a motorcyclist he has been driven off the road by other drivers that are using mobile devices while driving. |
| Ms. Faye Jenkins, spoke in opposition to the legislation and said that speeding causes more accidents and fatalities than distractions from cell phones. |
| MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to recommend draft legislation "Distracted Driver Amendments" (2019FL-0079/007) as a committee bill. The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays-2 | Abs-6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. K. Miles Rep. L. Perry Rep. E. Redd Rep. A. Romero Rep. C. Snider Rep. E. Weight Sen. B. Zehnder | Rep. B. Daw Rep. R. Ward | Rep. S. Hollins Rep. E. Hutchings Sen. D. Ipson Sen. W. Niederhauser Rep. P. Ray Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 6. Mortality in Utah County Jails and Prisons |
| Ms. Kim Cordova, Executive Director, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, presented "CCJJ Report on Mortality in Utah County Jails and Prisons" as required by 2018 General Session S.B. 205, "Incarceration Reports." |
| 6a - Murder Defense Amendment Fact Sheet (Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice) |
| 6b - CCJJ Report on Mortality in Utah County Jails and Prisons |
| Mr. David Walsh, Deputy Director, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, responded to questions from the committee regarding inmates. |
| Sheriff Chad Jenson, Cache County, commended the commission on the report. |
| 7. Adjourn |
| MOTION: Sen. Zehnder moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays-0 | Abs-7 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. K. Miles Rep. L. Perry Rep. E. Redd Rep. A. Romero Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Ward Rep. E. Weight Sen. B. Zehnder | Rep. B. Daw Rep. S. Hollins Rep. E. Hutchings Sen. D. Ipson Sen. W. Niederhauser Rep. P. Ray Sen. D. Thatcher |
| Chair Parry adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m. |