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Fourth Substitute H.B. 90

Representative LaVar Christensen proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CRIMINAL PENALTY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: David Litvack

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Karen Hale

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Criminal Code provisions regarding offenses committed with the
             10      intent to intimidate or terrorize a person and provides for consideration in sentencing
             11      regarding offenses that cause public harm.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    amends the current law regarding the intent to intimidate or terrorize to include
             15      offenses that have the effect of causing a person to reasonably fear to exercise rights
             16      under the state and federal constitutions and laws;
             17          .    provides that the listed misdemeanor offenses are increased by one misdemeanor
             18      level rather than imposing any felony penalty;
             19          .    provides that in sentencing for an offense, the judge or the Board of Pardons and
             20      Parole shall consider as an aggravating circumstance the effect of the offense in
             21      causing public harm and community unrest; and
             22          .    clarifies that the provisions of this bill do not affect or limit any exercise of
             23      constitutional rights, including freedom of expression.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None


             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None
             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:
             30          76-3-203.3, as last amended by Chapter 274, Laws of Utah 2004
             31      ENACTS:
             32          76-3-203.4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33     
             34      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             35          Section 1. Section 76-3-203.3 is amended to read:
             36           76-3-203.3. Penalty for hate crimes -- Civil rights violation.
             37          As used in this section:
             38          (1) "Primary offense" means those offenses provided in Subsection [(5)] (4).
             39          (2) (a) A person who commits any primary offense with the intent to intimidate or
             40      terrorize another person or with reason to believe that his action would intimidate or terrorize
             41      that person is [guilty of a third degree felony.] subject to Subsection (2)(b).
             42          (b) (i) A class C misdemeanor primary offense is a class B misdemeanor; and
             43          (ii) a class B misdemeanor primary offense is a class A misdemeanor.
             44          (3) "Intimidate or terrorize" means an act which causes the person to fear for his
             45      physical safety or damages the property of that person or another. The act must be
             46      accompanied with the intent to cause or has the effect of causing a person to reasonably fear to
             47      freely exercise or enjoy any right secured by the Constitution or laws of the state or by the
             48      Constitution or laws of the United States.
             49          [(4) (a) The prosecuting attorney, or grand jury if an indictment is returned, shall
             50      provide notice on the complaint in misdemeanor cases that the defendant is subject to a third
             51      degree felony provided under this section. The notice shall be in a clause separate from and in
             52      addition to the substantive offense charged.]
             53          [(b) If the notice is not included initially, the court may subsequently allow the
             54      prosecutor to amend the charging document to include the notice if the court finds:]
             55          [(i) that the amended charging documents, including any statement of probable cause,
             56      provide notice that the defendant is subject to a third degree felony provided under this section;


             57      and]
             58          [(ii) that the defendant has not otherwise been substantially prejudiced by the
             59      amendment.]
             60          [(5)] (4) Primary offenses referred to in Subsection [(2)] (1) are the misdemeanor
             61      offenses for:
             62          (a) assault and related offenses under Sections 76-5-102 , 76-5-102.4 , 76-5-106 ,
             63      76-5-107 , and 76-5-108 ;
             64          (b) any misdemeanor property destruction offense under Sections 76-6-102 , 76-6-104 ,
             65      and 76-8-714 , and Subsection 76-6-106 (2)(b);
             66          (c) any criminal trespass offense under Sections 76-6-204 and 76-6-206 ;
             67          (d) any misdemeanor theft offense under Section 76-6-412 ;
             68          (e) any offense of obstructing government operations under Sections 76-8-301 ,
             69      76-8-302 , 76-8-304 , 76-8-305 , 76-8-306 , 76-8-307 , 76-8-308 , and 76-8-313 ;
             70          (f) any offense of interfering or intending to interfere with activities of colleges and
             71      universities under Title 76, Chapter 8, Part 7;
             72          (g) any misdemeanor offense against public order and decency as defined in Title 76,
             73      Chapter 9, Part 1;
             74          (h) any telephone abuse offense under Title 76, Chapter 9, Part 2;
             75          (i) any cruelty to animals offense under Section 76-9-301 ; and
             76          (j) any weapons offense under Section 76-10-506 .
             77          (5) This section does not affect or limit any individual's constitutional right to the
             78      lawful expression of free speech or other recognized rights secured by the Constitution or laws
             79      of the state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
             80          Section 2. Section 76-3-203.4 is enacted to read:
             81          76-3-203.4. Hate crimes -- Aggravating factors.
             82          (1) The sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider in their
             83      deliberations as an aggravating factor the public harm resulting from the commission of the
             84      offense, including the degree to which the offense is likely to incite community unrest or cause
             85      members of the community to reasonably fear for their physical safety or to freely exercise or
             86      enjoy any right secured by the Constitution or laws of the state or by the Constitution or laws of
             87      the United States.


             88          (2) The sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall also consider
             89      whether the penalty for the offense is already increased by other existing provisions of law.
             90          (3) This section does not affect or limit any individual's constitutional right to the
             91      lawful expression of free speech or other recognized rights secured by the Constitution or laws
             92      of the state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States.


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