1     
BIGAMY AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

5     
House Sponsor: V. Lowry Snow

6     Cosponsors:
7     Jacob L. Anderegg
8     Curtis S. Bramble
9     Kirk A. Cullimore
10     Luz Escamilla
11     Lincoln Fillmore
12     Keith Grover
Daniel Hemmert
Lyle W. Hillyard
David P. Hinkins
Don L. Ipson
Derek L. Kitchen
Daniel McCay
Ann Millner
Ralph Okerlund
Kathleen Riebe
Scott D. Sandall
Evan J. Vickers
Todd Weiler
Ronald Winterton

13     

14     LONG TITLE
15     General Description:
16          This bill modifies provisions defining the crime of and penalties associated with
17     bigamy.
18     Highlighted Provisions:
19          This bill:
20          ▸     reclassifies the crime of bigamy as an infraction;
21          ▸     classifies inducing involuntary bigamy as a third degree felony;
22          ▸     modifies the list of crimes that, when committed in conjunction with bigamy, are a
23     second degree felony; and
24          ▸     makes conforming changes.
25     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26          None
27     Other Special Clauses:
28          None
29     Utah Code Sections Affected:
30     AMENDS:
31          76-7-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 442
32     

33     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34          Section 1. Section 76-7-101 is amended to read:
35          76-7-101. Bigamy -- Penalty -- Defense.
36          [(1) A person is guilty of bigamy when, knowing the person has a husband or wife or
37     knowing the other person has a husband or wife, the person purports to marry and cohabitates
38     with the other person.]
39          [(2) Bigamy is a third degree felony.]
40          [(3) Bigamy is a second degree felony if the accused is also convicted during the same
41     prosecution of the following:]
42          [(a) inducing marriage or bigamy under false pretenses;]
43          [(b) fraud;]
44          [(c) domestic abuse;]
45          [(d) child abuse;]
46          [(e) sexual abuse;]
47          [(f) human trafficking; or]
48          [(g) human smuggling.]
49          (1) An individual is guilty of bigamy if:
50          (a) the individual purports to marry another individual; and
51          (b) knows or reasonably should know that one or both of the individuals described in
52     Subsection (1)(a) are legally married to another individual.
53          (2) An individual who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of an infraction.
54          (3) An individual is guilty of a third degree felony if the individual induces bigamy:
55          (a) under fraudulent or false pretenses; or
56          (b) by threat or coercion.
57          (4) An individual is guilty of a second degree felony if the individual:
58          (a) cohabitates with another individual with whom the individual is engaged in bigamy
59     as described in Subsection (1); and
60          (b) in furtherance of the conduct described in Subsection (4)(a), commits a felony
61     offense, or for Subsection (4)(b)(vii), a misdemeanor offense, in violation of one or more of the
62     following:
63          (i) Chapter 5, Part 2, Criminal Homicide;
64          (ii) Chapter 5, Part 3, Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Smuggling;
65          (iii) Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
66          (iv) Section 76-5-109, child abuse -- child abandonment;
67          (v) Section 76-5-111, abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult;
68          (vi) Section 76-5-209, child abuse homicide;
69          (vii) Section 76-9-702.1, sexual battery;
70          (viii) Section 76-7-201, criminal nonsupport; or
71          (ix) Title 77, Chapter 36, Cohabitatant Abuse Procedures Act.
72          [(4)] (5) It is a defense to [bigamy] prosecution under Subsection (2) that:
73          [(a) the accused reasonably believed the accused and the other person were legally
74     eligible to marry;]
75          [(b) the accused is a person who, under reasonable fear of coercion or bodily harm, left
76     a bigamous relationship as defined in Subsection (1);]
77          [(c) the accused is a minor who left a bigamous relationship as defined in Subsection
78     (1); or]
79          [(d) the accused has taken steps to protect the safety and welfare of any minor child of
80     a bigamous relationship.]
81          (a) the individual ceased the practice of bigamy as described in Subsection (1) under
82     reasonable fear of coercion or bodily harm;
83          (b) the individual entered the practice of bigamy, as described in Subsection (1), as a
84     minor and ceased the practice of bigamy at any time after the individual entered the practice of
85     bigamy; or
86          (c) law enforcement discovers that the individual practices bigamy, as described in
87     Subsection (1), as a result of the individual's efforts to protect the safety and welfare of another
88     individual.