1     
BIGAMY OFFENSE AMENDMENTS

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Michael E. Noel

5     
Senate Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9           This bill modifies the Utah Criminal Code regarding bigamy.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸      revises the definition of bigamy.
13     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14          None
15     Other Special Clauses:
16          None
17     Utah Code Sections Affected:
18     AMENDS:
19          76-7-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 296
20          76-7-101.5, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 6
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 76-7-101 is amended to read:
24          76-7-101. Bigamy -- Defense.
25          (1) A person is guilty of bigamy when, knowing [he] the person has a husband or wife
26     or knowing the other person has a husband or wife, the person purports to marry [another] the
27     other person [or] and cohabits with [another] the other person.
28          (2) Bigamy is a third degree felony [of the third degree].
29          (3) It [shall be] is a defense to bigamy that the accused reasonably believed [he] the
30     accused and the other person were legally eligible to remarry.
31          Section 2. Section 76-7-101.5 is amended to read:
32          76-7-101.5. Child bigamy -- Penalty.
33          (1) An actor 18 years of age or older is guilty of child bigamy when, knowing he or she
34     has a wife or husband, or knowing that a person under 18 years of age has a wife or husband,
35     the actor carries out the following with the person who is under 18 years of age:
36          (a) purports to marry the person who is under 18 years of age; [or] and
37          (b) cohabits with the person who is under 18 years of age.
38          (2) A violation of Subsection (1) is a second degree felony.




Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel