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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Utah Criminal Code regarding aggravated assault and child
10 abuse.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ amends the crime of aggravated assault to include the act of impeding the breathing
14 or blood circulation of another person by the use of unlawful force that is likely to
15 result in a loss of consciousness;
16 ▸ provides that the commission of the aggravated assault offense of impeding
17 breathing or blood circulation is the offense of strangulation, and is a second degree
18 felony if action results in a loss of consciousness; and
19 ▸ modifies the crime of child abuse to include the act of impeding the breathing or
20 circulation of blood by applying pressure to the neck or throat, or by obstructing the
21 nose, mouth, or airway, in a manner that is likely to cause unconsciousness.
22 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:
28 76-5-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 430
29 76-5-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 258
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31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 76-5-103 is amended to read:
33 76-5-103. Aggravated assault -- Penalties.
34 (1) Aggravated assault is an actor's conduct:
35 (a) that is:
36 (i) an attempt, with unlawful force or violence, to do bodily injury to another;
37 (ii) a threat, accompanied by a show of immediate force or violence, to do bodily injury
38 to another; or
39 (iii) an act, committed with unlawful force or violence, that causes bodily injury to
40 another or creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another; and
41 (b) that includes the use of:
42 (i) a dangerous weapon as defined in Section 76-1-601; [
43 (ii) any act that impedes the breathing or the circulation of blood of another person by
44 the actor's use of unlawful force or violence that is likely to produce a loss of consciousness by:
45 (A) applying pressure to the neck or throat of a person; or
46 (B) obstructing the nose, mouth, or airway of a person; or
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48 [
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52 (2) Any act under this section is punishable as a third degree felony, except that an act
53 under this section is punishable as a second degree felony if:
54 (a) the act results in serious bodily injury; or
55 (b) an act under Subsection (1)(b)(ii) produces a loss of consciousness.
56 Section 2. Section 76-5-109 is amended to read:
57 76-5-109. Child abuse -- Child abandonment.
58 (1) As used in this section:
59 (a) "Child" means a human being who is under 18 years of age.
60 (b) (i) "Child abandonment" means that a parent or legal guardian of a child:
61 (A) intentionally ceases to maintain physical custody of the child;
62 (B) intentionally fails to make reasonable arrangements for the safety, care, and
63 physical custody of the child; and
64 (C) (I) intentionally fails to provide the child with food, shelter, or clothing;
65 (II) manifests an intent to permanently not resume physical custody of the child; or
66 (III) for a period of at least 30 days:
67 (Aa) intentionally fails to resume physical custody of the child; and
68 (Bb) fails to manifest a genuine intent to resume physical custody of the child.
69 (ii) "Child abandonment" does not include:
70 (A) safe relinquishment of a child pursuant to the provisions of Section 62A-4a-802; or
71 (B) giving legal consent to a court order for termination of parental rights:
72 (I) in a legal adoption proceeding; or
73 (II) in a case where a petition for the termination of parental rights, or the termination
74 of a guardianship, has been filed.
75 (c) "Child abuse" means any offense described in Subsection (2), (3), or (4) or in
76 Section 76-5-109.1.
77 (d) "Enterprise" is as defined in Section 76-10-1602.
78 (e) "Physical injury" means an injury to or condition of a child which impairs the
79 physical condition of the child, including:
80 (i) a bruise or other contusion of the skin;
81 (ii) a minor laceration or abrasion;
82 (iii) failure to thrive or malnutrition; or
83 (iv) any other condition which imperils the child's health or welfare and which is not a
84 serious physical injury as defined in Subsection (1)(f).
85 (f) (i) "Serious physical injury" means any physical injury or set of injuries that:
86 (A) seriously impairs the child's health;
87 (B) involves physical torture;
88 (C) causes serious emotional harm to the child; or
89 (D) involves a substantial risk of death to the child.
90 (ii) "Serious physical injury" includes:
91 (A) fracture of any bone or bones;
92 (B) intracranial bleeding, swelling or contusion of the brain, whether caused by blows,
93 shaking, or causing the child's head to impact with an object or surface;
94 (C) any burn, including burns inflicted by hot water, or those caused by placing a hot
95 object upon the skin or body of the child;
96 (D) any injury caused by use of a dangerous weapon as defined in Section 76-1-601;
97 (E) any combination of two or more physical injuries inflicted by the same person,
98 either at the same time or on different occasions;
99 (F) any damage to internal organs of the body;
100 (G) any conduct toward a child that results in severe emotional harm, severe
101 developmental delay or intellectual disability, or severe impairment of the child's ability to
102 function;
103 (H) any injury that creates a permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment
104 of the function of a bodily member, limb, or organ;
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107 (I) any impediment of the breathing or the circulation of blood by application of
108 pressure to the neck, throat, or chest, or by the obstruction of the nose or mouth, that is likely to
109 produce a loss of consciousness;
110 (J) any conduct that results in starvation or failure to thrive or malnutrition that
111 jeopardizes the child's life[
112 (K) unconsciousness caused by the unlawful infliction of a brain injury or unlawfully
113 causing any deprivation of oxygen to the brain.
114 (2) Any person who inflicts upon a child serious physical injury or, having the care or
115 custody of such child, causes or permits another to inflict serious physical injury upon a child is
116 guilty of an offense as follows:
117 (a) if done intentionally or knowingly, the offense is a felony of the second degree;
118 (b) if done recklessly, the offense is a felony of the third degree; or
119 (c) if done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class A misdemeanor.
120 (3) Any person who inflicts upon a child physical injury or, having the care or custody
121 of such child, causes or permits another to inflict physical injury upon a child is guilty of an
122 offense as follows:
123 (a) if done intentionally or knowingly, the offense is a class A misdemeanor;
124 (b) if done recklessly, the offense is a class B misdemeanor; or
125 (c) if done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class C misdemeanor.
126 (4) A person who commits child abandonment, or encourages or causes another to
127 commit child abandonment, or an enterprise that encourages, commands, or causes another to
128 commit child abandonment, is:
129 (a) except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), guilty of a felony of the third degree; or
130 (b) guilty of a felony of the second degree, if, as a result of the child abandonment:
131 (i) the child suffers a serious physical injury; or
132 (ii) the person or enterprise receives, directly or indirectly, any benefit.
133 (5) (a) In addition to the penalty described in Subsection (4)(b), the court may order the
134 person or enterprise described in Subsection (4)(b)(ii) to pay the costs of investigating and
135 prosecuting the offense and the costs of securing any forfeiture provided for under Subsection
136 (5)(b).
137 (b) Any tangible or pecuniary benefit received under Subsection (4)(b)(ii) is subject to
138 criminal or civil forfeiture pursuant to Title 24, Forfeiture and Disposition of Property Act.
139 (6) A parent or legal guardian who provides a child with treatment by spiritual means
140 alone through prayer, in lieu of medical treatment, in accordance with the tenets and practices
141 of an established church or religious denomination of which the parent or legal guardian is a
142 member or adherent shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to have committed an
143 offense under this section.
144 (7) A parent or guardian of a child does not violate this section by selecting a treatment
145 option for the medical condition of the child, if the treatment option is one that a reasonable
146 parent or guardian would believe to be in the best interest of the child.
147 (8) A person is not guilty of an offense under this section for conduct that constitutes:
148 (a) reasonable discipline or management of a child, including withholding privileges;
149 (b) conduct described in Section 76-2-401; or
150 (c) the use of reasonable and necessary physical restraint or force on a child:
151 (i) in self-defense;
152 (ii) in defense of others;
153 (iii) to protect the child; or
154 (iv) to remove a weapon in the possession of a child for any of the reasons described in
155 Subsections (8)(c)(i) through (iii).