| Members Present: Sen. Todd D. Weiler, Chair Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore Sen. Michael S. Kennedy Sen. Jerry W Stevenson Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher |
Members Absent: Sen. Luz Escamilla Staff Present: Lacey Johnson, Policy Analyst Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary |
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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 Weiler called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. D. Thatcher Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. J. Stevenson |
| 1.H.B. 158 Criminal Defamation Amendments (Shipp, R.P.) |
| Count of Cases Filed with Criminal Defamation and Count of Dispositions with Criminal Defamation |
| States That Have Repealed Their Statutes |
| Rep. Shipp presented the bill with assistance of Will Carlson, Chief Policy Analyst, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. |
| Daniel Strong, Director, Sentencing Commission, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Mark Moffat, Defense Attorney, Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Robert Winterton, lawyer, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Tyler Melling, Cedar City Councilman, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Milton McLelland, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Brad Green, chairman, Iron County Libertarian Party, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass H.B. 158 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. D. Thatcher Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. J. Stevenson |
| 2.H.B. 177 Forcible Entry Warrant Amendments (Gwynn, M.) |
| Rep. Gwynn presented the bill. |
| Nate Mutter, co-chair, Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass H.B. 177 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. D. Thatcher Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla |
| 3.2nd Sub. H.B. 204 Towing Requirements (Gwynn, M.) |
| Rep. Gwynn presented the bill. |
| Jeff Nigbur, Major, Utah Highway Patrol, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 204 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. D. Thatcher Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla |
| 4.1st Sub. H.B. 68 Firearm Modifications (Stoddard, A.) |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 68 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 68.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to amend 2nd Substitute H.B. 68 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
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Amendment 2
2nd Sub. H.B. 68 7 LONG TITLE 8 General Description: 9 This bill addresses the sentencing for an individual { 10 11 Highlighted Provisions: 12 This bill: 13 ▸ { 14 15 individual convicted of distributing drugs to an indeterminate prison term if the individual, while distributing the drugs, intentionally or knowingly: • • 16 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes. 70 (ii) The court shall impose and may not suspend an indeterminate prison term for a 71 person who has been convicted of a violation of Subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) that is a first 72 degree felony or a second degree felony if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that, 73 during the commission or furtherance of the violation, the person intentionally or knowingly : 74 (A) used, drew, or exhibited a dangerous weapon, as that term is defined in Section 75 76-10-501, that is not a firearm, in an angry, threatening, intimidating, or coercive manner; { 76 (B) used a firearm or had a firearm readily accessible for immediate use, as those terms 77 are defined in Section 76-10-501 { (C) distributed a firearm, as that term is defined in Section 76-10-501, or possessed a firearm with intent to distribute the firearm. 377 (ii) The court shall impose and may not suspend an indeterminate prison term for a 378 person who has been convicted of a violation of Subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) that is a first 379 degree felony or a second degree felony if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that, 380 during the commission or furtherance of the violation, the person intentionally or knowingly : 381 (A) used, drew, or exhibited a dangerous weapon, as that term is defined in Section 382 76-10-501, that is not a firearm, in an angry, threatening, intimidating, or coercive manner; { 383 (B) used a firearm or had a firearm readily accessible for immediate use, as those terms 384 are defined in Section 76-10-501 { (C) distributed a firearm, as that term is defined in Section 76-10-501, or possessed a firearm with intent to distribute the firearm. |
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| Nate Mutter, co-chair, Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 68 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 5.H.B. 110 Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry Amendments (Stoddard, A.) |
| Rep. Stoddard presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass H.B. 110 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 6.H.B. 225 Unlawful Kissing of a Child or Minor (Stoddard, A.) |
| Rep. Stoddard presented the bill with assistance of Sergeant Robb Scott, Special Victims Unit, Unified Police Department. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass H.B. 225 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 7.1st Sub. H.B. 157 Child Custody Factor Amendments (Gricius, S.) |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 157 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 157.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| Rep. Gricius presented the bill. |
| Dani Palmer, Vice President, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Goud Maragani, Chairman, Utah Gay-Straight Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| David Boettger, retired pediatrician, spoke to the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 157 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 8.1st Sub. H.B. 223 Airport Weapon Possession Amendments (Gricius, S.) |
| Rep. Gricius presented the bill. |
| David Quealy, Senior City Attorney, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 223 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 9.H.B. 259 Juvenile Interrogation Modifications (Judkins, M.) |
| Rep. Judkins presented the bill. |
| Pamela Vickrey, Executive Director, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass H.B. 259 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to place H.B. 259 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| 10.H.B. 336 Department of Public Safety Amendments (Burton, J.) |
| Rep. Burton presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to pass H.B. 336 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to place H.B. 336 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. M. Kennedy Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Thatcher |
| Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 9:11 a.m. |