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S.B. 50 Enrolled

             1     

VICTIMS' RIGHTS REVISIONS

             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

             5     
House Sponsor: R. Curt Webb

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill shifts responsibility for the district victims' rights committees from the district
             10      courts to the Utah Council on Victims of Crime.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    changes the appointment of the chairs of district victim rights' committees from the
             14      presiding district court judge to the Utah Council on Victims of Crime; and
             15          .    makes technical numbering corrections.
             16      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          63M-7-603, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             23          77-37-5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 120
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 63M-7-603 is amended to read:
             27           63M-7-603. Duties.
             28          (1) The council shall:
             29          (a) make recommendations to the Legislature, the governor, and the Judicial Council


             30      on the following:
             31          (i) enforcing existing rights of victims of crime;
             32          (ii) enhancing rights of victims of crime;
             33          (iii) the role of victims of crime in the criminal justice system;
             34          (iv) victim restitution;
             35          (v) educating and training criminal justice professionals on the rights of victims of
             36      crime; and
             37          (vi) enhancing services to victims of crimes;
             38          (b) provide training on the rights of victims of crime; and
             39          (c) establish a subcommittee to consider complaints not resolved by the Victims'
             40      Rights Committee established in Section 77-37-5 .
             41          (2) The council:
             42          (a) shall advocate the adoption, repeal, or modification of laws or proposed legislation
             43      in the interest of victims of crime[.];
             44          [(3) The council] (b) may establish additional subcommittees to assist in
             45      accomplishing its duties[.]; and
             46          (c) shall select and appoint persons pursuant to the provisions of Section 77-37-5 to
             47      act as chairpersons of the judicial district victims' rights committees and provide assistance to
             48      the committees in their operations.
             49          Section 2. Section 77-37-5 is amended to read:
             50           77-37-5. Remedies -- District Victims' Rights Committee.
             51          (1) In each judicial district, [the presiding district court judge] the Utah Council on
             52      Victims of Crime, established in Section 63M-7-601 , shall appoint a person who shall
             53      [establish and] chair a judicial district victims' rights committee consisting of:
             54          (a) a county attorney or district attorney;
             55          (b) a sheriff;
             56          (c) a corrections field services administrator;
             57          (d) an appointed victim advocate;


             58          (e) a municipal attorney;
             59          (f) a municipal chief of police; and
             60          (g) other representatives as appropriate.
             61          (2) The committee shall meet at least semiannually to review progress and problems
             62      related to this chapter, Title 77, Chapter 38, Rights of Crime Victims Act, Title 77, Chapter
             63      38a, Crime Victims Restitution Act, and Utah Constitution Article I, Section 28. Victims and
             64      other interested parties may submit matters of concern to the victims' rights committee. The
             65      committee may hold a hearing open to the public on any appropriate matter of concern and
             66      may publish its findings. These matters shall also be considered at the meetings of the victims'
             67      rights committee. The committee shall forward minutes of all meetings to the [Commission
             68      on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and the Office of Crime Victim Reparations] Utah Council
             69      on Victims of Crime for review and other appropriate action.
             70          (3) If a victims' rights committee is unable to resolve a complaint, it may refer the
             71      complaint to the Utah Council on Victims of Crime[, established in Section 63M-7-601 , for
             72      further consideration].
             73          (4) The Office of Crime Victim Reparations shall provide materials to local law
             74      enforcement to inform every victim of a sexual offense of the right to request testing of the
             75      convicted sexual offender and of the victim as provided in Section 76-5-502 .
             76          (5) (a) If a person acting under color of state law willfully or wantonly fails to perform
             77      duties so that the rights in this chapter are not provided, an action for injunctive relief may be
             78      brought against the individual and the government entity that employs the individual.
             79          (b) For all other violations, if the committee finds a violation of a victim's right, it
             80      shall refer the matter to the appropriate court for further proceedings consistent with
             81      Subsection 77-38-11 (2).
             82          (c) The failure to provide the rights in this chapter or Title 77, Chapter 38, Rights of
             83      Crime Victims Act, does not constitute cause for a judgment against the state or any
             84      government entity, or any individual employed by the state or any government entity, for
             85      monetary damages, attorney fees, or the costs of exercising any rights under this chapter.


             86          (6) The person accused of and subject to prosecution for the crime or the act which
             87      would be a crime if committed by a competent adult, has no standing to make a claim
             88      concerning any violation of the provisions of this chapter.


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