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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
STANDING COMMITTEE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2004
Room 414, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING


Members Present:        Sen. Gregory Bell, Chair
            Sen. Patrice M. Arent
            Sen. D. Chris Buttars
            Sen. Mike Dmitrich
            Sen. James M. Evans
            Sen. David L. Gladwell
            Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

Members Excused:        Sen. L. Al Mansell
        
Staff Present:        Jami Momberger, Policy Analyst
            Katrina Yarrington, Committee Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Richard McConkie, Ogden City
            Kirk Torgensen, Chief Deputy, Attorney General's Office
            Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General
            Richard Daynes, Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney
            Joe Ferguson, citizen
            Bert Smith, Utah Cattlemen's Association
            Mike Ashment, Commander, Narcotics Strike Force
            Slade C. Gurr, citizen
            Arnold Gaunt, Coordinator, FEAR
            Rhonda Rose, Utah PTA

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.     

Committee Chair Bell called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.
    
1.     Approval of minutes

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to approve the minutes from the February 10th, 2004.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Dmitrich, Sen. Evans, Sen Gladwell, and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

2. S.B. 62 Stay of Execution Amendments (D. Thomas)

    Sen. Thomas introduced the bill assisted by Richard McConkie, Ogden City.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to pass S.B. 62 out with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Evans absent for the vote.

3. S.B. 175 Protection of Private Lawfully Obtained Property (D.C. Buttars)

    Sen. Buttars introduced the bill assisted by Kirk Torgensen, Chief Deputy, Attorney General's Office.

    MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved the following amendment:

1.    Page 1, Lines 16 through 17 :    

             16          .    creates
[[   a special revenue fund known as the Crime Reduction Assistance Fund, to be managed by the   ]]        a restricted account for specified state forfeiture funds, and provides that funds in the account shall be appropriated to the      

             17      Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;

2.    Page 3, Line 78 :    

  (1) "Account" means the Criminal Forfeiture Account created in Section 24-1-8.

 

Renumber following sections.

             78          (1) "Agency" [shall mean] means any agency of municipal, county, or state

3.    Page 4, Line 90 :    

             90          
[[   (5) "Fund" means the Crime Reduction Assistance Fund created in Section 24-1-17 .   ]]


4.    Page 12, Line 339 :    

             339      Reduction Assistance Program under Section
[[   24-1-18   ]]        24-1-19       if the agency has not established or


5.    Page 16, Lines 481 through 484 :    

             481          (ii) shall be used only for those law enforcement purposes specified in
[[   Section

             482      24-1-18 (8)   ]]
  Subsection 24-1-19(8)       ; and

             483          (iii) may not be used for those law enforcement purposes prohibited in
[[   Section

             484      24-1-18 (9)   ]]
  Subsection 24-1-19(9)       .

6.    Page 17, Line 507 :    

             507      or law enforcement purposes authorized under Section
[[   24-1-18   ]]        24-1-19       , and only upon approval or


7.    Page 18, Lines 545 through 548 :    

             545          (5) The remaining forfeited property shall then be
[[   transferred by the seizing agency to

             546      the state treasurer, to be deposited in the Crime Reduction Assistance Fund created in Section
             547      24-1-18 for award and distribution pursuant to the Crime Reduction Assistance Program
             548      created in Section 24-1-19   ]]
  deposited in the Criminal Forfeiture Account created in section 24-1-18       .


8.    Page 18, Lines 549 through 554 :    

             549          (6)
[[   (a)   ]] All property and proceeds awarded to the state through forfeiture proceedings

             550      under this chapter shall be
  deposited in the Criminal Forfeiture Account created in Section 24-1-18            [[   held by the state treasurer until the Utah Commission on Criminal

             551      and Juvenile Justice approves awards and disbursements under the program   ]] .
             552          
[[   (b) The property and proceeds held by the state treasurer shall be segregated from other

             553      property, equipment, or assets of the state and from any department, office, or agency of the
             554      state until awarded through the program.   ]]


9.    Page 19, Lines 556 through 567 :    

             556          
[[  24-1-18. Crime Reduction Assistance Fund.

             557          (1) (a) There is created a special revenue fund known as the Crime Reduction
             558      Assistance Fund for the purpose of providing funding for the Crime Reduction Assistance
             559      Program created by Section 24-1-19 .
             560          (b) Consistent with its duties and responsibilities under Section 63-25a-104 , the Utah

             561      Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice shall expend monies from the fund for the
             562      purposes under Section 24-1-19 .
             563          (c) The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice may pay program
             564      administrative costs from the fund.
             565          (2) The fund consists of all monies deposited to the fund under Section 24-1-17 .
             566          (3) (a) The fund shall earn interest.
             567          (b) All interest earned on fund monies shall be deposited into the fund.   ]]
  24-1-18. Criminal Forfeiture Account.

(1) (a) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the "Criminal Forfeiture Account."
(2) Proceeds from forfeited property and forfeited monies shall be deposited in this account.
(3) Money in the account shall be appropriated to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, for implementing the Crime Reduction Assistance Program under Section 24-1-19.  


10.    Page 21, Lines 619 through 621 :    

             619          (9) Law enforcement purposes for which award monies may not be granted or used
             620      include:
             621          (a) payment of salaries
  , retirement benefits,       or bonuses to any person;


    The motion passed unanimously.


     MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved the following amendment:

1.    Page 13, Lines 374 through 380 :    

             374          (10) the motion for hardship release shall also be served upon the prosecuting attorney
             375     
[[   and   ]]        or       the seizing agency within ten days after filing the motion.

             376          [(3)] (11) The court shall render a decision on a motion [or complaint] for hardship
             377      filed under [Subsection (2)] this section not later than [ten] 20 days after the date of filing, or
             378      ten days after service upon the prosecuting attorney
[[   and   ]]        or       seizing agency, whichever is earlier,

             379
     unless [the ten-day] this period is extended by the [consent of the] parties or by the court for
             380      good cause shown.
    
    The following people spoke in support of the bill:
    Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General
    Richard Daynes, Assistant U.S. Attorney
    Mike Ashment, Commander, Narcotics Strike Force
    Slade C. Gurr, citizen
    Rhonda Rose, Utah PTA

    The following people spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Joe Ferguson, citizen
    Bert Smith, Utah Cattlemen's Association
    Arnold Gaunt, Coordinator, FEAR


     MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to adjourn.

    Committee Chair Bell adjourned the meeting at 10:28 a.m.

    Minutes recorded by Katrina Yarrington, Secretary




 Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Committee Chair