First Substitute H.B. 184

Representative LaWanna Lou Shurtliff proposes the following substitute bill:

1 CRIME VICTIMS - CHANGE OF LOCKS
2 ON RENTAL PROPERTY
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: LaWanna Lou Shurtliff
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the Utah Fit Premises Act to provide crime victims the right to have
10 the lock to a residential rental unit changed at the renter's expense.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . enacts a provision allowing a renter who is a victim of one of a list of certain crimes
14 to require the owner to install a new lock at the renter's expense.
15 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 ENACTS:
21 57-22-5.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 57-22-5.1 is enacted to read:
25 57-22-5.1. Crime victim's right to new locks.

26 (1) For purposes of this section, "crime victim" means a victim of:
27 (a) domestic violence, as defined in Section 77-36-1 ;
28 (b) stalking as defined in Section 76-5-106.5 ;
29 (c) a crime under Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
30 (d) burglary or aggravated burglary under Section 76-6-202 or 76-6-203 ; or
31 (e) dating violence, consisting of verbal, emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual
32 abuse of one person by another in a dating relationship.
33 (2) An acceptable form of documentation of an act listed in Subsection (1) is:
34 (a) a protective order protecting the renter issued pursuant to Title 30, Chapter 6,
35 Cohabitant Abuse Act, subsequent to a hearing of which the petitioner and respondent have
36 been given notice under Title 30, Chapter 6; or
37 (b) a copy of a police report documenting an act listed in Subsection (1).
38 (3) (a) A renter who is a crime victim may require the renter's owner to install a new
39 lock to the renter's residential rental unit if the renter:
40 (i) provides the owner with an acceptable form of documentation of an act listed in
41 Subsection (1); and
42 (ii) pays for the cost of installing the new lock.
43 (b) An owner who installs a new lock under Subsection (3)(a) may retain a copy of the
44 key that opens the new lock.
45 (c) Notwithstanding any rental agreement, an owner who installs a new lock under
46 Subsection (3)(a) may refuse to provide a copy of the key that opens the new lock to the
47 perpetrator of the act listed in Subsection (1).

*HB0184S01*