1     
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVISIONS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

5     
House Sponsor: Paul Ray

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill adds aggravated cruelty to an animal to the list of offenses that may qualify as
10     a domestic violence offense.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     adds aggravated cruelty to an animal to the list of offenses that may qualify as a
14     domestic violence offense; and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          77-36-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 255
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 77-36-1 is amended to read:
26          77-36-1. Definitions.
27          As used in this chapter:
28          (1) "Cohabitant" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-7-102.
29          (2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety.

30          (3) "Divorced" means an individual who has obtained a divorce under Title 30, Chapter
31     3, Divorce.
32          (4) "Domestic violence" or "domestic violence offense" means any criminal offense
33     involving violence or physical harm or threat of violence or physical harm, or any attempt,
34     conspiracy, or solicitation to commit a criminal offense involving violence or physical harm,
35     when committed by one cohabitant against another. "Domestic violence" or "domestic
36     violence offense" also means commission or attempt to commit, any of the following offenses
37     by one cohabitant against another:
38          (a) aggravated assault, as described in Section 76-5-103;
39          (b) aggravated cruelty to an animal, as described in Subsection 76-9-301(4), with the
40     intent to harass or threaten the other cohabitant;
41          [(b)] (c) assault, as described in Section 76-5-102;
42          [(c)] (d) criminal homicide, as described in Section 76-5-201;
43          [(d)] (e) harassment, as described in Section 76-5-106;
44          [(e)] (f) electronic communication harassment, as described in Section 76-9-201;
45          [(f)] (g) kidnapping, child kidnapping, or aggravated kidnapping, as described in
46     Sections 76-5-301, 76-5-301.1, and 76-5-302;
47          [(g)] (h) mayhem, as described in Section 76-5-105;
48          [(h)] (i) sexual offenses, as described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses,
49     and Section 76-5b-201, Sexual exploitation of a minor -- Offenses;
50          [(i)] (j) stalking, as described in Section 76-5-106.5;
51          [(j)] (k) unlawful detention or unlawful detention of a minor, as described in Section
52     76-5-304;
53          [(k)] (l) violation of a protective order or ex parte protective order, as described in
54     Section 76-5-108;
55          [(l)] (m) any offense against property described in Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 1, Property
56     Destruction, Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 2, Burglary and Criminal Trespass, or Title 76, Chapter 6,
57     Part 3, Robbery;

58          [(m)] (n) possession of a deadly weapon with criminal intent, as described in Section
59     76-10-507;
60          [(n)] (o) discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, near a highway, or in the direction of
61     any person, building, or vehicle, as described in Section 76-10-508;
62          [(o)] (p) disorderly conduct, as defined in Section 76-9-102, if a conviction of
63     disorderly conduct is the result of a plea agreement in which the defendant was originally
64     charged with a domestic violence offense otherwise described in this Subsection (4), except
65     that a conviction of disorderly conduct as a domestic violence offense, in the manner described
66     in this Subsection (4)[(o)](p), does not constitute a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
67     under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921, and is exempt from the federal Firearms Act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921 et
68     seq.;
69          [(p)] (q) child abuse, as described in Section 76-5-109.1;
70          [(q)] (r) threatening use of a dangerous weapon, as described in Section 76-10-506;
71          [(r)] (s) threatening violence, as described in Section 76-5-107;
72          [(s)] (t) tampering with a witness, as described in Section 76-8-508;
73          [(t)] (u) retaliation against a witness or victim, as described in Section 76-8-508.3;
74          [(u)] (v) unlawful distribution of an intimate image, as described in Section 76-5b-203;
75          [(v)] (w) sexual battery, as described in Section 76-9-702.1;
76          [(w)] (x) voyeurism, as described in Section 76-9-702.7;
77          [(x)] (y) damage to or interruption of a communication device, as described in Section
78     76-6-108; or
79          [(y)] (z) an offense described in Section 77-20-3.5.
80          (5) "Jail release agreement" means the same as that term is defined in Section
81     77-20-3.5.
82          (6) "Jail release court order" means the same as that term is defined in Section
83     77-20-3.5.
84          (7) "Marital status" means married and living together, divorced, separated, or not
85     married.

86          (8) "Married and living together" means a couple whose marriage was solemnized
87     under Section 30-1-4 or 30-1-6 and who are living in the same residence.
88          (9) "Not married" means any living arrangement other than married and living together,
89     divorced, or separated.
90          (10) "Protective order" includes an order issued under Subsection 77-36-5.1(6).
91          (11) "Pretrial protective order" means a written order:
92          (a) specifying and limiting the contact a person who has been charged with a domestic
93     violence offense may have with an alleged victim or other specified individuals; and
94          (b) specifying other conditions of release pursuant to Subsection 77-20-3.5(3),
95     Subsection 77-36-2.6(3), or Section 77-36-2.7, pending trial in the criminal case.
96          (12) "Sentencing protective order" means a written order of the court as part of
97     sentencing in a domestic violence case that limits the contact a person who has been convicted
98     of a domestic violence offense may have with a victim or other specified individuals pursuant
99     to Sections 77-36-5 and 77-36-5.1.
100          (13) "Separated" means a couple who have had their marriage solemnized under
101     Section 30-1-4 or 30-1-6 and who are not living in the same residence.
102          (14) "Victim" means a cohabitant who has been subjected to domestic violence.