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H.B. 327 Enrolled

             1     

ENTICING A MINOR BY ELECTRONIC

             2     
MEANS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Kerry W. Gibson

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Jon J. Greiner

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Criminal Code regarding the offense of enticing a minor for the
             11      purpose of luring the minor to commit a sexual offense in violation of state law.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    modifies the offense of enticing a minor for unlawful sexual purposes by use of the
             15      Internet so that the offense includes the use of text messaging;
             16          .    clarifies a separate offense of when a person initiates contact with a minor by use of
             17      the Internet or text messaging, and subsequently entices the minor by electronic or
             18      written means;
             19          .    provides definitions; and
             20          .    provides technical cross reference amendments.
             21      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27          76-4-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 337
             28          77-27-21.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 337
             29     


             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 76-4-401 is amended to read:
             32           76-4-401. Enticing a minor -- Elements -- Penalties.
             33          (1) As used in this section:
             34          (a) "Minor" means a person who is under the age of 18.
             35          (b) "Text messaging" means a communication in the form of electronic text or one or
             36      more electronic images sent by the actor from a telephone or computer to another person's
             37      telephone or computer by addressing the communication to the person's telephone number.
             38          [(1)] (2) (a) A person commits enticement of a minor [over the Internet] when the
             39      person knowingly uses [a computer] or attempts to use the Internet or text messaging to solicit,
             40      seduce, lure, or entice[, or attempts to use a computer to solicit, seduce, lure, or entice] a minor
             41      or [a] another person that the [defendant] actor believes to be a minor to engage in any sexual
             42      activity which is a violation of state criminal law.
             43          (b) A person commits enticement of a minor [over the Internet] when the person
             44      knowingly uses [a computer] the Internet or text messaging to:
             45          (i) initiate contact with a minor or a person the [defendant] actor believes to be a minor;
             46      and
             47          (ii) subsequently to the action under Subsection (2)(b)(i), by any electronic or written
             48      means, solicits, seduces, lures, or entices, or attempts to solicit, seduce, lure, or entice the minor
             49      or a person the [defendant] actor believes to be the minor to engage in any sexual activity which
             50      is a violation of state criminal law.
             51          [(2)] (3) It is not a defense to the crime of enticing a minor under Subsection [(1)] (2),
             52      or an attempt to commit this offense, that a law enforcement officer or an undercover operative
             53      who is working with a law enforcement agency was involved in the detection or investigation of
             54      the offense.
             55          [(3)] (4) An enticement of a minor under Subsection [(1)] (2)(a) or (b) with the intent
             56      to commit:
             57          (a) a first degree felony is a:


             58          (i) second degree felony upon the first conviction for violation of this Subsection [(3)]
             59      (4)(a); and
             60          (ii) first degree felony punishable by imprisonment for an indeterminate term of not
             61      fewer than three years and which may be for life, upon a second or any subsequent conviction
             62      for a violation of this Subsection [(3)] (4)(a);
             63          (b) a second degree felony is a third degree felony;
             64          (c) a third degree felony is a class A misdemeanor;
             65          (d) a class A misdemeanor is a class B misdemeanor; and
             66          (e) a class B misdemeanor is a class C misdemeanor.
             67          [(4)] (5) (a) When a person who commits a felony violation of this section has been
             68      previously convicted of an offense under Subsection [(4)] (5)(b), the court may not in any way
             69      shorten the prison sentence, and the court may not:
             70          (i) grant probation;
             71          (ii) suspend the execution or imposition of the sentence;
             72          (iii) enter a judgment for a lower category of offense; or
             73          (iv) order hospitalization.
             74          (b) The sections referred to in Subsection [(4)] (5)(a) are:
             75          (i) Section 76-4-401 , enticing a minor [over the Internet];
             76          (ii) Section 76-5-301.1 , child kidnapping;
             77          (iii) Section 76-5-402 , rape;
             78          (iv) Section 76-5-402.1 , rape of a child;
             79          (v) Section 76-5-402.2 , object rape;
             80          (vi) Section 76-5-402.3 , object rape of a child;
             81          (vii) Subsection 76-5-403 (2), forcible sodomy;
             82          (viii) Section 76-5-403.1 , sodomy on a child;
             83          (ix) Section 76-5-404 , forcible sexual abuse;
             84          (x) Section 76-5-404.1 , sexual abuse of a child and aggravated sexual abuse of a child;
             85          (xi) Section 76-5-405 , aggravated sexual assault;


             86          (xii) any offense in any other state or federal jurisdiction which constitutes or would
             87      constitute a crime in Subsections (4)(b)(i) through (xi); or
             88          (xiii) the attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in
             89      Subsections (4)(b)(i) through (xii).
             90          Section 2. Section 77-27-21.5 is amended to read:
             91           77-27-21.5. Sex offender registration -- Information system -- Law enforcement
             92      and courts to report -- Registration -- Penalty -- Effect of expungement.
             93          (1) As used in this section:
             94          (a) "Department" means the Department of Corrections.
             95          (b) "Division" means the Division of Juvenile Justice Services.
             96          (c) "Employed" or "carries on a vocation" includes employment that is full time or part
             97      time, whether financially compensated, volunteered, or for the purpose of government or
             98      educational benefit.
             99          (d) "Notification" means a person's acquisition of information from the department
             100      about a sex offender, including his place of habitation, physical description, and other
             101      information as provided in Subsections (12) and (13).
             102          (e) "Register" means to comply with the rules of the department made under this
             103      section.
             104          (f) "Sex offender" means any person:
             105          (i) convicted by this state of:
             106          (A) a felony or class A misdemeanor violation of Section 76-4-401 , enticing a minor
             107      [over the Internet];
             108          (B) Section 76-5-301.1 , kidnapping of a child;
             109          (C) a felony violation of Section 76-5-401 , unlawful sexual activity with a minor;
             110          (D) Section 76-5-401.1 , sexual abuse of a minor;
             111          (E) Section 76-5-401.2 , unlawful sexual conduct with a 16 or 17 year old;
             112          (F) Section 76-5-402 , rape;
             113          (G) Section 76-5-402.1 , rape of a child;


             114          (H) Section 76-5-402.2 , object rape;
             115          (I) Section 76-5-402.3 , object rape of a child;
             116          (J) a felony violation of Section 76-5-403 , forcible sodomy;
             117          (K) Section 76-5-403.1 , sodomy on a child;
             118          (L) Section 76-5-404 , forcible sexual abuse;
             119          (M) Section 76-5-404.1 , sexual abuse of a child or aggravated sexual abuse of a child;
             120          (N) Section 76-5-405 , aggravated sexual assault;
             121          (O) Section 76-5a-3 , sexual exploitation of a minor;
             122          (P) Section 76-7-102 , incest;
             123          (Q) Section 76-9-702.5 , lewdness involving a child;
             124          (R) Section 76-10-1306 , aggravated exploitation of prostitution; or
             125          (S) attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit any felony offense listed in
             126      Subsection (1)(f)(i);
             127          (ii) who has been convicted of any crime, or an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to
             128      commit a crime in another state or by the United States government that is substantially
             129      equivalent to the offenses listed in Subsection (1)(f)(i) and who is:
             130          (A) a Utah resident; or
             131          (B) not a Utah resident, but who is in the state for ten days, regardless of whether or
             132      not the offender intends to permanently reside in this state;
             133          (iii) who is required to register as a sex offender in any other state or United States
             134      territory, is not a Utah resident, but who is in the state for ten days, regardless of whether or not
             135      the offender intends to permanently reside in this state;
             136          (iv) who is a nonresident regularly employed, working, or a student in this state and
             137      was convicted of one or more offenses listed in Subsection (1)(f)(i), or any substantially
             138      equivalent offense in another state or by the United States government, and as a result of the
             139      conviction, is required to register in the person's state of residence;
             140          (v) who is found not guilty by reason of insanity in this state, any other state, or by the
             141      United States government of one or more offenses listed in Subsection (1)(f)(i); or


             142          (vi) who is adjudicated delinquent based on one or more offenses listed in Subsection
             143      (1)(f)(i) and who has been committed to the division for secure confinement and remains in the
             144      division's custody 30 days prior to the person's 21st birthday.
             145          (2) The department, to assist in investigating sex-related crimes and in apprehending
             146      offenders, shall:
             147          (a) develop and operate a system to collect, analyze, maintain, and disseminate
             148      information on sex offenders and sex offenses; and
             149          (b) make information collected and developed under this section available to the public.
             150          (3) Any law enforcement agency shall, in the manner prescribed by the department,
             151      inform the department of:
             152          (a) the receipt of a report or complaint of an offense listed in Subsection (1)(f), within
             153      three working days; and
             154          (b) the arrest of a person suspected of any of the offenses listed in Subsection (1)(f),
             155      within five working days.
             156          (4) Upon convicting a person of any of the offenses listed in Subsection (1)(f), the
             157      convicting court shall within three working days forward a copy of the judgment and sentence
             158      to the department.
             159          (5) A sex offender in the custody of the department shall be registered by agents of the
             160      department upon:
             161          (a) being placed on probation;
             162          (b) commitment to a secure correctional facility operated by or under contract to the
             163      department;
             164          (c) release from confinement to parole status, termination or expiration of sentence, or
             165      escape;
             166          (d) entrance to and release from any community-based residential program operated by
             167      or under contract to the department; or
             168          (e) termination of probation or parole.
             169          (6) A sex offender not in the custody of the department and who is confined in a


             170      correctional facility not operated by or under contract to the department shall be registered with
             171      the department by the sheriff of the county in which the offender is confined upon:
             172          (a) commitment to the correctional facility; and
             173          (b) release from confinement.
             174          (7) A sex offender in the custody of the division shall be registered with the department
             175      by the division prior to release from custody.
             176          (8) A sex offender committed to a state mental hospital shall be registered with the
             177      department by the hospital upon admission and upon discharge.
             178          (9) A sex offender convicted by any other state or by the United States government is
             179      required to register under Subsection (1)(f)(ii) and shall register with the department within ten
             180      days of entering the state, regardless of the length of stay.
             181          (10) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (10)(b), (c), and (d), a sex offender shall, for
             182      the duration of the sentence and for ten years after termination of sentence or custody of the
             183      division, register annually during the month of the offender's birth and again within five days of
             184      every change of his place of habitation, vehicle information, or educational information required
             185      to be submitted under Subsection (12).
             186          (b) Except as provided Subsections (10)(c) and (d), a sex offender who is convicted of
             187      an offense listed in Subsection (1)(f)(i) by another state shall register for the time period
             188      required by the state where the offender was convicted if the state's registration period for the
             189      offense that the offender was convicted of is in excess of the ten years from completion of the
             190      sentence registration period that is required under Subsection (10)(a).
             191          (c) (i) A sex offender convicted as an adult of any of the offenses listed in Subsection
             192      (10)(c)(ii) shall, for the offender's lifetime, register annually during the month of the offender's
             193      birth and again within five days of every change of the offender's place of habitation, vehicle
             194      information, or educational information required to be submitted under Subsection (12). This
             195      registration requirement is not subject to exemptions and may not be terminated or altered
             196      during the offender's lifetime.
             197          (ii) Offenses referred to in Subsection (10)(c)(i) are:


             198          (A) any offense listed in Subsection (1)(f) if, at the time of the conviction, the offender
             199      has previously been convicted of an offense listed in Subsection (1)(f) or has previously been
             200      required to register as a sex offender for an offense committed as a juvenile;
             201          (B) Section 76-4-401 , enticing a minor [over the Internet], if the offense is a class A or
             202      felony violation;
             203          (C) Section 76-5-301.1 , child kidnapping;
             204          (D) Section 76-5-402 , rape;
             205          (E) Section 76-5-402.1 , rape of a child;
             206          (F) Section 76-5-402.2 , object rape;
             207          (G) Section 76-5-402.3 , object rape of a child;
             208          (H) Section 76-5-403 , forcible sodomy;
             209          (I) Section 76-5-403.1 , sodomy on a child;
             210          (J) Section 76-5-404.1 , sexual abuse of a child;
             211          (K) Subsection 76-5-404.1 (4), aggravated sexual abuse of a child;
             212          (L) Section 76-5-405 , aggravated sexual assault;
             213          (M) Section 76-5a-3 , sexual exploitation of a minor; or
             214          (N) Section 76-7-102 , incest.
             215          (d) Notwithstanding Subsections (10)(a), (b), and (c), a sex offender who is confined in
             216      a secure facility or in a state mental hospital is not required to register annually.
             217          (e) A sex offender that is required to register annually under this Subsection (10) shall
             218      surrender the sex offender's license certificate or identification card as required under
             219      Subsection 53-3-216 (3) or 53-3-807 (4) and may apply for a license certificate or identification
             220      card as provided under Section 53-3-205 or 53-3-804 .
             221          (11) An agency in the state that registers a sex offender on probation, a sex offender
             222      who has been released from confinement to parole status or termination, or a sex offender
             223      whose sentence has expired shall inform the offender of the duty to comply with:
             224          (a) the continuing registration requirements of this section during the period of
             225      registration required in Subsection (10), including:


             226          (i) notification to the state agencies in the states where the registrant presently resides
             227      and plans to reside when moving across state lines;
             228          (ii) verification of address at least every 60 days pursuant to a parole agreement for
             229      lifetime parolees; and
             230          (iii) notification to the out-of-state agency where the offender is living, whether or not
             231      the offender is a resident of that state; and
             232          (b) the driver license certificate or identification card surrender requirement under
             233      Subsection 53-3-216 (3) or 53-3-807 (4) and application provisions under Section 53-3-205 or
             234      53-3-804 .
             235          (12) A sex offender shall provide the department with the following information:
             236          (a) all names or aliases the sex offender is or has been known by;
             237          (b) the sex offender's name and residential address;
             238          (c) a physical description, including the sex offender's age, height, weight, eye and hair
             239      color;
             240          (d) the type of vehicle or vehicles the sex offender drives;
             241          (e) a current photograph of the sex offender; and
             242          (f) each educational institution in Utah at which the sex offender is employed, carries on
             243      a vocation, or is a student, and any change of enrollment or employment status of the sex
             244      offender at any educational institution.
             245          (13) The department shall:
             246          (a) provide the following additional information when available:
             247          (i) the crimes the sex offender was convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for; and
             248          (ii) a description of the sex offender's primary and secondary targets; and
             249          (b) ensure that the registration information collected regarding a sex offender's
             250      enrollment or employment at an educational institution is:
             251          (i) (A) promptly made available to any law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction
             252      where the institution is located if the educational institution is an institution of higher education;
             253      or


             254          (B) promptly made available to the district superintendent of the school district where
             255      the offender is enrolled if the educational institution is an institution of primary education; and
             256          (ii) entered into the appropriate state records or data system.
             257          (14) (a) A sex offender who knowingly fails to register under this section is guilty of:
             258          (i) a third degree felony and shall be sentenced to serve a term of incarceration for not
             259      less than 90 days and also at least one year of probation if:
             260          (A) the sex offender is required to register for a felony conviction of an offense listed in
             261      Subsection (1)(f)(i); or
             262          (B) the sex offender is required to register for the offender's lifetime under Subsection
             263      (10)(c); or
             264          (ii) a class A misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to serve a term of incarceration for
             265      not fewer than 90 days and also at least one year of probation if the sex offender is required to
             266      register for a misdemeanor conviction of an offense listed in Subsection (1)(f)(i).
             267          (b) Neither the court nor the Board of Pardons and Parole may release a person who
             268      violates this section from serving the term required under Subsection (14)(a). This Subsection
             269      (14)(b) supersedes any other provision of the law contrary to this section.
             270          (15) Notwithstanding Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
             271      Management Act, information in Subsections (12) and (13) collected and released under this
             272      section is public information.
             273          (16) (a) If a sex offender is to be temporarily sent outside a secure facility in which he is
             274      confined on any assignment, including, without limitation, firefighting or disaster control, the
             275      official who has custody of the offender shall, within a reasonable time prior to removal from
             276      the secure facility, notify the local law enforcement agencies where the assignment is to be
             277      filled.
             278          (b) This Subsection (16) does not apply to any person temporarily released under guard
             279      from the institution in which he is confined.
             280          (17) Notwithstanding Sections 77-18-9 through 77-18-14 regarding expungement, a
             281      person convicted of any offense listed in Subsection (1)(f) is not relieved from the responsibility


             282      to register as required under this section.
             283          (18) Notwithstanding Section 42-1-1 , a sex offender:
             284          (a) may not change his name:
             285          (i) while under the jurisdiction of the department; and
             286          (ii) until the registration requirements of this statute have expired; or
             287          (b) may not change his name at any time, if registration is under Subsection (10)(c).
             288          (19) The department may make rules necessary to implement this section, including:
             289          (a) the method for dissemination of the information; and
             290          (b) instructions to the public regarding the use of the information.
             291          (20) Any information regarding the identity or location of a victim shall be redacted by
             292      the department from information provided under Subsections (12) and (13).
             293          (21) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create or impose any duty on any
             294      person to request or obtain information regarding any sex offender from the department.
             295          (22) The department shall post registry information on the Internet, and the website
             296      shall contain a disclaimer informing the public of the following:
             297          (a) the information contained on the site is obtained from sex offenders and the
             298      department does not guarantee its accuracy;
             299          (b) members of the public are not allowed to use the information to harass or threaten
             300      sex offenders or members of their families; and
             301          (c) harassment, stalking, or threats against sex offenders or their families are prohibited
             302      and doing so may violate Utah criminal laws.
             303          (23) The website shall be indexed by both the surname of the offender and by postal
             304      codes.
             305          (24) The department shall construct the website so that users, before accessing registry
             306      information, must indicate that they have read the disclaimer, understand it, and agree to comply
             307      with its terms.
             308          (25) The department, its personnel, and any individual or entity acting at the request or
             309      upon the direction of the department are immune from civil liability for damages for good faith


             310      compliance with this section and will be presumed to have acted in good faith by reporting
             311      information.
             312          (26) The department shall redact information that, if disclosed, could reasonably
             313      identify a victim.
             314          (27) (a) Each sex offender required to register under Subsection (10), who is not
             315      currently under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, shall pay to the department an
             316      annual fee of $75 each year the sex offender is subject to the registration requirements.
             317          (b) The department shall deposit fees under this Subsection (27) in the General Fund as
             318      a dedicated credit, to be used by the department for maintaining the sex offender registry under
             319      this section and monitoring sex offender registration compliance, including the costs of:
             320          (i) data entry;
             321          (ii) processing registration packets;
             322          (iii) updating registry information;
             323          (iv) ensuring sex offender compliance with registration requirements under this section;
             324      and
             325          (v) apprehending offenders who are in violation of the sex offender registration
             326      requirements under this section.


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