H.B. 280 Enrolled

             1     

TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO PAWNSHOP STATUTE

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Angela Romero

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Karen Mayne

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Pawnshop and Secondhand Merchandise Transaction Information
             10      Act regarding disposition of property.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    corrects a cross-reference regarding disposition of property after it has been
             14      removed from a law enforcement hold and is not needed as evidence.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           13-32a-115 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 284
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 13-32a-115 is amended to read:
             25           13-32a-115. Investigation phase -- Victim's responsibilities -- Property
             26      disposition.
             27          (1) If the property pawned or sold to a pawn or secondhand business is the subject of a
             28      criminal investigation and a hold has been placed on the property under Section 13-32a-109 ,
             29      the original victim shall do the following to establish a claim:


             30          (a) positively identify to law enforcement the item stolen or lost;
             31          (b) if a police report has not already been filed for the original theft or loss of property,
             32      file a police report, and provide for the law enforcement agency information surrounding the
             33      original theft or loss of property; and
             34          (c) give a sworn statement under penalty of law that:
             35          (i) claims ownership of the property;
             36          (ii) references the original theft or loss; and
             37          (iii) identifies the perpetrator if known.
             38          (2) The pawn or secondhand business shall retain possession of any property subject to
             39      a hold until a criminal prosecution is commenced relating to the property for which the hold
             40      was placed unless:
             41          (a) during the course of a criminal investigation the actual physical possession by law
             42      enforcement of an article purchased or pawned is essential for the purpose of fingerprinting the
             43      property, chemical testing of the property, or if the property contains unique or sensitive
             44      personal identifying information; or
             45          (b) an agreement between the original victim and the pawn or secondhand business to
             46      return the property is reached.
             47          (3) (a) Upon the commencement of a criminal prosecution, any article subject to a hold
             48      for investigation under this chapter may be seized by the law enforcement agency which
             49      requested the hold.
             50          (b) Subsequent disposition of the property shall be consistent with Section [ 77-24-2 ]
             51      24-3-103 regarding property not needed as evidence and this chapter.
             52          (c) If a conflict exists between the provisions of Section [ 77-24-2 ] 24-3-103 regarding
             53      property not needed as evidence and this chapter, this chapter takes precedence regarding
             54      property held by pawn or secondhand businesses.
             55          (4) At all times during the course of a criminal investigation and subsequent
             56      prosecution, the article subject to a law enforcement hold shall be kept secure by the pawn or
             57      secondhand business subject to the hold unless a pawned or sold article has been seized by the


             58      law enforcement agency pursuant to Section 13-32a-109.5 .
             59          Section 2. Effective date.
             60          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             61      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             62      Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             63      the date of veto override.


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