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H.B. 62

             1     

PENALTIES FOR VIOLENT CRIME IN

             2     
PRESENCE OF A CHILD

             3     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Janice M. Fisher

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Ross I. Romero

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Criminal Code to provide graduated penalties for committing a
             11      violent criminal offense in the presence of a child younger than 14 years of age.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides a class A misdemeanor penalty for a person who, while in the presence of
             15      a child:
             16              .    commits or attempts to commit criminal homicide against a third party; or
             17              .    intentionally causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury to a third party or
             18      uses a dangerous weapon or other means or force likely to produce death or
             19      serious bodily injury against a third party;
             20          .    provides for a class B misdemeanor penalty for a person who commits any other
             21      violent criminal offense in the presence of a child;
             22          .    requires the court to order a person who commits a violent offense in the presence
             23      of a child to pay restitution for any necessary counseling for each child who is
             24      present when the offense was committed, unless the court states on the record why
             25      the court finds the restitution would not be appropriate;
             26          .    provides that a charge of committing a violent criminal offense in the presence of a
             27      child is separate and distinct from a charge of domestic violence when the victim is


             28      the cohabitant and specifies that either or both charges may be filed by the prosecutor;
             29          .    provides that a person who commits a violent offense in the presence of a child
             30      when more than one child is present is guilty of one violation regarding each child
             31      who is present when the offense occurred; and
             32          .    provides definitions.
             33      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             34          None
             35      Other Special Clauses:
             36          None
             37      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             38      ENACTS:
             39          76-3-203.10, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40     
             41      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             42          Section 1. Section 76-3-203.10 is enacted to read:
             43          76-3-203.10. Violent offense committed in presence of a child -- Penalties --
             44      Restitution.
             45          (1) As used in this section:
             46          (a) "In the presence of a child" means:
             47          (i) in the physical presence of a child younger than 14 years of age; or
             48          (ii) having knowledge that a child younger than 14 years of age is present and may see
             49      or hear the commission of a violent criminal offense.
             50          (b) "Violent criminal offense" means any criminal offense involving violence or
             51      physical harm or threat of violence or physical harm, or any attempt to commit a criminal
             52      offense involving violence or physical harm.
             53          (2) A person commits a violent criminal offense in the presence of a child if the
             54      person:
             55          (a) commits or attempts to commit criminal homicide, as defined in Section 76-5-201 ,
             56      against a third party in the presence of a child;
             57          (b) intentionally causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury to a third party or
             58      uses a dangerous weapon, as defined in Section 76-1-601 , or other means or force likely to


             59      produce death or serious bodily injury, against a third party in the presence of a child; or
             60          (c) under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (b),
             61      commits a violent criminal offense in the presence of a child.
             62          (3) (a) A person who violates Subsection (2)(a) or (b) is guilty of a class A
             63      misdemeanor.
             64          (b) A person who violates Subsection (2)(c) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
             65          (4) In addition to any other penalty, the court shall order a person who violates
             66      Subsection (2) to pay restitution for any necessary counseling for each child who is present
             67      when the violation was committed, unless the court states on the record reasons why the court
             68      finds the restitution would not be appropriate.
             69          (5) (a) A charge under this section is separate and distinct from, and is in addition to, a
             70      charge of domestic violence when the victim is the cohabitant.
             71          (b) Either or both charges may be filed by the prosecutor.
             72          (6) A person who commits a violation of Subsection (2) when more than one child is
             73      present is guilty of one violation of Subsection (2) regarding each child who is present when
             74      the offense occurred.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 5-15-09 7:02 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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