This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Tue, Mar 12, 2019 at 7:01 PM by pflowers.
Senator Daniel W. Thatcher proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
VICTIM TARGETING PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Daniel W. Thatcher

5     
House Sponsor: Lee B. Perry

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts provisions relating to sentencing for a criminal offense committed
10     against a victim who is selected because of certain personal attributes.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     provides an enhanced penalty for a criminal offense committed against a victim who
15     is selected because of certain personal attributes; and
16          ▸     provides that this bill does not affect an individual's constitutional rights, including
17     an individual's constitutional right of free speech.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     ENACTS:
24          76-3-203.14, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 76-3-203.14 is enacted to read:
28          76-3-203.14. Victim targeting penalty enhancement -- Penalties.
29          (1) As used in this section "personal attribute" means:
30          (a) age;
31          (b) ancestry;
32          (c) disability;
33          (d) ethnicity;
34          (e) familial status;
35          (f) gender identity;
36          (g) homelessness;
37          (h) marital status;
38          (i) matriculation;
39          (j) national origin;
39a     Ĥ→ (k) political expression;
40          [(k)] (l) ←Ĥ race;
41          Ĥ→ [(l)] (m) ←Ĥ religion;
42          Ĥ→ [(m)] (n) ←Ĥ sex;
43          Ĥ→ [(n)] (o) ←Ĥ sexual orientation;
44          Ĥ→ [(o)] (p) ←Ĥ service in the U.S. Armed Forces;
45          Ĥ→ [(p)] (q) ←Ĥ status as an emergency responder, as defined in Section 53-2b-102; or
46          Ĥ→ [(q)] (r) ←Ĥ status as a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, special function
46a     officer, or
47     any other peace officer, as defined in Title 53, Chapter 13, Peace Officer Classifications.
48          (2) A defendant is subject to enhanced penalties under Subsection (3) if the defendant
49     intentionally selects:
50          (a) the victim of the criminal offense because of the defendant's belief or perception
51     regarding the victim's personal attribute or a personal attribute of another individual or group of
52     individuals with whom the victim has a relationship; or
53          (b) the property damaged or otherwise affected by the criminal offense because of the
54     defendant's belief or perception regarding the property owner's, possessor's, or occupant's
55     personal attribute or a personal attribute of another individual or group of individuals with
56     whom the property owner, possessor, or occupant has a relationship.
57          (3) (a) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant committed a
58     criminal offense and selected the victim or property damaged or otherwise affected by the
59     criminal offense in the manner described in Subsection (2), the defendant is subject to an
60     enhanced penalty for the criminal offense as follows:
61          (i) a class C misdemeanor is a class B misdemeanor;
62          (ii) a class B misdemeanor is a class A misdemeanor;
63          (iii) a class A misdemeanor is a third degree felony;
64          (iv) a third degree felony is a third degree felony punishable by an indeterminate term
65     of imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years; and
66          (v) a second degree felony is a second degree felony punishable by an indeterminate
67     term of imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than 15 years.
68          (b) If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant committed a
69     criminal offense that is a first degree felony and selected the victim or property damaged or
70     otherwise affected by the criminal offense in the manner described in Subsection (2), the
71     sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider the defendant's selection of
72     the victim or property as an aggravating factor.
73          (4) This section does not:
74          (a) apply if:
75          (i) the penalty for the criminal offense is increased or enhanced under another
76     provision of state law; or
77          (ii) the personal attribute of the victim or property owner, possessor, or occupant is an
78     element of a criminal offense under another provision of state law;
79          (b) prevent the court from imposing alternative sanctions as the court finds appropriate;
80          (c) affect or limit any individual's constitutional right to the lawful expression of free
81     speech or other recognized rights secured by the Utah Constitution or the laws of the state, or
82     by the United States Constitution or the laws of the United States; or
83          (d) create a special or protected class for any purpose other than a criminal penalty
84     enhancement under this section.
85          (5) (a) If a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction holds invalid any
86     provision of this section or the application of any provision of this section to any person or
87     circumstance, the remaining provisions of this section remain effective without the invalidated
88     provision or application.
89          (b) The provisions of this section are severable.