1     
LEWDNESS STATUTE MODIFICATION

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks

5     
Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies a provision relating to the offense of lewdness involving a child.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     modifies language relating to the actions that constitute the offense of lewdness
13     involving a child.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          76-9-702.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 278
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 76-9-702.5 is amended to read:
24          76-9-702.5. Lewdness involving a child.
25          (1) As used in this section, "in the presence of" includes within visual contact through
26     an electronic device.
27          [(1)] (2) A person is guilty of lewdness involving a child if the person under
28     circumstances not amounting to rape of a child, object rape of a child, sodomy upon a child,
29     sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, or an attempt to commit any of
30     those offenses, intentionally or knowingly:
31          (a) does any of the following [to, or] in the presence of[,] a child who is under 14 years
32     of age:
33          [(a)] (i) performs an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy;
34          [(b)] (ii) exposes his or her genitals, the female breast below the top of the areola, the
35     buttocks, the anus, or the pubic area:
36          [(i)] (A) in a public place; or
37          [(ii)] (B) in a private place[: (A)] under circumstances the person should know will
38     likely cause affront or alarm[; or (B)] or with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of
39     the actor or the child;
40          [(c)] (iii) masturbates; or
41          (iv) performs any other act of lewdness; or
42          [(d)] (b) under circumstances not amounting to sexual exploitation of a child under
43     Section 76-5b-201, causes a child under the age of 14 years to expose his or her genitals, anus,
44     or breast, if female, to the actor, with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of the
45     actor or the child[; or].
46          [(e) performs any other act of lewdness.]
47          [(2)] (3) (a) Lewdness involving a child is a class A misdemeanor, except under
48     Subsection [(2)] (3)(b).
49          (b) Lewdness involving a child is a third degree felony if at the time of the violation:
50          (i) the person is a sex offender as defined in Section 77-27-21.7; or
51          (ii) the person has previously been convicted of a violation of this section.