First Substitute H.B. 248

Representative Mike K. McKell proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CRIME VICTIMS RESTITUTION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Mike K. McKell

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill allows a designated representative of a victim to pursue restitution claims.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    allows for a person who claims pecuniary damages as a result of a defendant's
             13      criminal activities to seek restitution individually through a representative.
             14      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             15          None
             16      Other Special Clauses:
             17          None
             18      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             19      AMENDS:
             20           77-38-9 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 352
             21     
             22      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             23          Section 1. Section 77-38-9 is amended to read:
             24           77-38-9. Representative of victim -- Court designation -- Representation in cases
             25      involving minors -- Photographs in homicide cases.


             26          (1) (a) A victim of a crime may designate, with the approval of the court, a
             27      representative who may exercise the same rights that the victim is entitled to exercise under
             28      this chapter, including pursuing restitution.
             29          (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the victim may revoke the designation
             30      at any time.
             31          (c) In cases where the designation is in question, the court may require that the
             32      designation of the representative be made in writing by the victim.
             33          (2) In cases in which the victim is deceased or incapacitated, upon request from the
             34      victim's spouse, parent, child, or close friend, the court shall designate a representative or
             35      representatives of the victim to exercise the rights of a victim under this chapter on behalf of
             36      the victim. The responsible prosecuting agency may request a designation to the court.
             37          (3) (a) If the victim is a minor, the court in its discretion may allow the minor to
             38      exercise the rights of a victim under this chapter or may allow the victim's parent or other
             39      immediate family member to act as a representative of the victim.
             40          (b) The court may also, in its discretion, designate a person who is not a member of the
             41      immediate family to represent the interests of the minor.
             42          (4) The representative of a victim of a crime shall not be:
             43          (a) the accused or a person who appears to be accountable or otherwise criminally
             44      responsible for or criminally involved in the crime or conduct, a related crime or conduct, or a
             45      crime or act arising from the same conduct, criminal episode, or plan as the crime or conduct is
             46      defined under the laws of this state;
             47          (b) a person in the custody of or under detention of federal, state, or local authorities;
             48      or
             49          (c) a person whom the court in its discretion considers to be otherwise inappropriate.
             50          (5) Any notices that are to be provided to a victim pursuant to this chapter shall be sent
             51      to the victim or the victim's lawful representative.
             52          (6) On behalf of the victim, the prosecutor may assert any right to which the victim is
             53      entitled under this chapter, unless the victim requests otherwise or exercises his own rights.
             54          (7) In any homicide prosecution, the prosecution may introduce a photograph of the
             55      victim taken before the homicide to establish that the victim was a human being, the identity of
             56      the victim, and for other relevant purposes.


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