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H.B. 112

             1     

UTAH COUNCIL ON VICTIMS OF CRIME

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Scott L Wyatt

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Ross I. Romero

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill creates a Council on Victims of Crime within the Governor's Office.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    creates a 26 member council on victims of crime;
             13          .    defines specific membership of the council and appointment responsibilities;
             14          .    sets out duties and requirements;
             15          .    provides for compensation of members; and
             16          .    requires the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to provide staff to the
             17      council.
             18      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          63-25a-406, as last amended by Chapter 256, Laws of Utah 2002
             25          77-37-5, as last amended by Chapter 352, Laws of Utah 1995
             26      ENACTS:
             27          63-25a-601, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          63-25a-602, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          63-25a-603, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          63-25a-604, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          63-25a-605, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 63-25a-406 is amended to read:
             35           63-25a-406. Functions of board.
             36          (1) The [board] Crime Victim Reparations Board shall:
             37          (a) adopt a description of the organization and prescribe the general operation of the
             38      board;
             39          (b) prescribe policy for the Office of Crime Victim Reparations [Office];
             40          (c) adopt rules to implement and administer Sections 63-25a-401 through 63-25a-428
             41      pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, which may include
             42      setting of ceilings on reparations, defining of terms not specifically stated in this chapter, and
             43      establishing of rules governing attorney fees;
             44          (d) prescribe forms for applications for reparations;
             45          (e) review all awards made by the reparations staff, although the board may not reverse
             46      or modify awards authorized by the reparations staff;
             47          (f) render an annual report to the governor and the Legislature regarding the staff's and
             48      the board's activities;
             49          (g) cooperate with the director and his staff in formulating standards for the uniform
             50      application of Section 63-25a-409 , taking into consideration the rates and amounts of
             51      reparation payable for injuries and death under other laws of this state and the United States;
             52          [(h) advocate the adoption, repeal, or modification of laws or proposed legislation in
             53      the interest of victims of crime;]
             54          [(i)] (h) allocate monies available in the Crime Victim [Reparation] Reparations Fund
             55      to victims of criminally injurious conduct for reparations claims; and
             56          [(j)] (i) allocate monies available to other victim services as provided by administrative
             57      rule once a sufficient reserve has been established for reparation claims.
             58          (2) All rules, or other statements of policy, along with application forms specified by


             59      the board, are binding upon the director, the reparations officers, and other staff.
             60          Section 2. Section 63-25a-601 is enacted to read:
             61     
Part 6. Utah Council on Victims of Crime

             62          63-25a-601. Creation -- Members -- Chair.
             63          (1) There is created within the governor's office the Utah Council on Victims of Crime.
             64          (2) The Utah Council on Victims of Crime shall be composed of 26 voting members as
             65      follows:
             66          (a) a representative of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice appointed by
             67      the executive director;
             68          (b) a representative of the Department of Corrections appointed by the executive
             69      director;
             70          (c) a representative of the Board of Pardons and Parole appointed by the chair;
             71          (d) a representative of the Department of Public Safety appointed by the commissioner;
             72          (e) a representative of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services appointed by the
             73      director;
             74          (f) a representative of the Office of Crime Victim Reparations appointed by the
             75      director;
             76          (g) a representative of the Office of the Attorney General appointed by the attorney
             77      general;
             78          (h) a representative of the United States Attorney for the district of Utah appointed by
             79      the United States Attorney;
             80          (i) a representative of the Office on Violence Against Women and Families appointed
             81      by the director;
             82          (j) the chair of each judicial district's victims' rights committee;
             83          (k) the following members appointed to serve four-year terms:
             84          (i) a district court judge appointed by the Judicial Council;
             85          (ii) a juvenile court judge appointed by the Judicial Council;
             86          (iii) a representative of the Statewide Association of Public Attorneys appointed by that
             87      association;
             88          (iv) a representative of the Utah Chiefs of Police Association appointed by the
             89      president of that association;


             90          (v) a representative of the Utah Sheriffs' Association appointed by the president of that
             91      association;
             92          (vi) a representative of a Children's Justice Center appointed by the Advisory Board on
             93      Children's Justice; and
             94          (vii) a citizen representative appointed by the governor; and
             95          (l) the following members appointed by the members in Subsections (2)(a) through
             96      (2)(k) to serve four-year terms:
             97          (i) an individual who works professionally with victims of crime; and
             98          (ii) a victim of crime.
             99          (3) The council shall annually elect one member to serve as chair.
             100          Section 3. Section 63-25a-602 is enacted to read:
             101          63-25a-602. Reappointment -- Vacancies.
             102          (1) Members appointed to serve four-year terms shall be eligible for reappointment one
             103      time.
             104          (2) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
             105      appointed for the unexpired term.
             106          Section 4. Section 63-25a-603 is enacted to read:
             107          63-25a-603. Duties.
             108          (1) The council shall:
             109          (a) make recommendations to the Legislature, the governor, and the Judicial Council
             110      on the following:
             111          (i) enforcing existing rights of victims of crime;
             112          (ii) enhancing rights of victims of crime;
             113          (iii) the role of victims of crime in the criminal justice system;
             114          (iv) victim restitution;
             115          (v) educating and training criminal justice professionals on the rights of victims of
             116      crime; and
             117          (vi) enhancing services to victims of crimes;
             118          (b) provide training on the rights of victims of crime; and
             119          (c) establish a subcommittee to consider complaints not resolved by the Victims'
             120      Rights Committee established in Section 77-37-5 .


             121          (2) The council shall advocate the adoption, repeal, or modification of laws or
             122      proposed legislation in the interest of victims of crime.
             123          (3) The council may establish additional subcommittees to assist in accomplishing its
             124      duties.
             125          Section 5. Section 63-25a-604 is enacted to read:
             126          63-25a-604. Compensation of members.
             127          (1) (a) Members who are not government employees shall receive no compensation or
             128      benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance
             129      of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under
             130      Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             131          (b) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their services.
             132          (2) (a) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per
             133      diem, or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses
             134      incurred in the performance of their official duties at the rates established by the Division of
             135      Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             136          (b) State government officer and employee members may decline to receive per diem
             137      and expenses for their service.
             138          Section 6. Section 63-25a-605 is enacted to read:
             139          63-25a-605. Staffing.
             140          The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice shall provide staff to the council and
             141      any subcommittees established by the council.
             142          Section 7. Section 77-37-5 is amended to read:
             143           77-37-5. Remedies -- Victims' Rights Committee.
             144          [Remedies available are:]
             145          (1) In each judicial district, the presiding district court judge shall appoint a person
             146      who shall establish and chair a victims' rights committee consisting of:
             147          (a) a county attorney or district attorney;
             148          (b) a sheriff;
             149          (c) a corrections field services administrator;
             150          (d) an appointed victim advocate;
             151          (e) a municipal attorney;


             152          (f) a municipal chief of police; and
             153          (g) other representatives as appropriate.
             154          (2) The committee shall meet at least semiannually to review progress and problems
             155      related to this chapter, Title 77, Chapter 38, Rights of Crime Victims Act, and Utah
             156      Constitution Article I, Section 28. Victims and other interested parties may submit matters of
             157      concern to the victims' rights committee. The committee may hold a hearing open to the public
             158      on any appropriate matter of concern and may publish its findings. These matters shall also be
             159      considered at the meetings of the victims' rights committee. The committee shall forward
             160      minutes of all meetings to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and the Office of
             161      Crime [Victims'] Victim Reparations for review and other appropriate action.
             162          (3) If a victims' rights committee is unable to resolve a complaint, it may refer the
             163      complaint to the Utah Council on Victims of Crime, established in Section 63-25a-601 , for
             164      further consideration.
             165          [(3)] (4) The Office of Crime [Victims'] Victim Reparations shall provide materials to
             166      local law enforcement to inform every victim of a sexual offense of the right to request testing
             167      of the convicted sexual offender and of the victim as provided in Section 76-5-502 .
             168          [(4)] (5) If a person acting under color of state law willfully or wantonly fails to
             169      perform duties so that the rights in this chapter are not provided, an action for injunctive relief
             170      may be brought against the individual and the government entity that employs the individual.
             171      The failure to provide the rights in this chapter or Title 77, Chapter 38, Rights of Crime
             172      Victims Act, does not constitute cause for a judgment against the state or any government
             173      entity, or any individual employed by the state or any government entity, for monetary
             174      damages, attorney's fees, or the costs of exercising any rights under this chapter.
             175          [(5)] (6) The person accused of and subject to prosecution for the crime or the act
             176      which would be a crime if committed by a competent adult, has no standing to make a claim
             177      concerning any violation of the provisions of this chapter.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-14-06 8:19 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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