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OFFICE ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

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2021 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: V. Lowry Snow

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Senate Sponsor: ____________

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill creates the Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Domestic
10     Violence Offender Task Force within the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile
11     Justice.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     defines terms;
15          ▸     creates the Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence within the State Commission
16     on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;
17          ▸     requires the executive director of the commission to appoint a director of the office;
18          ▸     creates the Domestic Violence Offender Task Force within the commission; and
19          ▸     requires the office, in consultation with the task force, to coordinate statewide
20     resources and policies for reducing instances of domestic and sexual violence.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     ENACTS:
27          63M-7-701, Utah Code Annotated 1953

28          63M-7-702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29          63M-7-703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30          63M-7-704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31          63M-7-801, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32          63M-7-802, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          63M-7-803, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34          63M-7-804, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35     

36     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37          Section 1. Section 63M-7-701 is enacted to read:
38     
Part 7. Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence

39          63M-7-701. Title.
40          This part is known as the "Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence."
41          Section 2. Section 63M-7-702 is enacted to read:
42          63M-7-702. Definitions.
43          As used in this part:
44          (1) "Commission" means the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice
45     created in Section 63M-7-201.
46          (2) "Office" means the Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence created in Section
47     63M-7-703.
48          Section 3. Section 63M-7-703 is enacted to read:
49          63M-7-703. Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence -- Creation -- Appointment of
50     director.
51          (1) There is created the Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence within the
52     commission.
53          (2) The executive director of the commission shall appoint a director of the office.
54          Section 4. Section 63M-7-704 is enacted to read:
55          63M-7-704. Office duties -- Rulemaking.
56          The office shall:
57          (1) provide leadership and generate unity for the state's ongoing efforts to reduce and
58     eliminate the impact of rape, sexual assault, and intimate partner and domestic and sexual

59     violence through comprehensive and evidence-based prevention, intervention, and treatment;
60          (2) coordinate with advisory councils within the commission focused on domestic and
61     sexual violence to create, disseminate, implement, and recommend statewide policies to
62     address intimate partner and domestic and sexual violence;
63          (3) collaborate and partner with public and private partners to perform the duties
64     described in this section using a multidisciplinary approach;
65          (4) facilitate planning for a balanced continuum of intimate partner and domestic and
66     sexual violence prevention, intervention, treatment, and justice services;
67          (5) in consultation with the Domestic Violence Offender Task Force created in Section
68     63M-7-803:
69          (a) establish and promote the use of best practice standards that are based on the best
70     practices identified by the Domestic Violence Offender Task Force under Subsection
71     63M-7-804(2)(b);
72          (b) disseminate the best practice standards described in Subsection (5)(a) to be used in
73     the evaluation, intervention, treatment, and monitoring of intimate partner and domestic and
74     sexual violence offenders; and
75          (c) establish an accreditation program for public and private providers of intervention
76     and treatment for intimate partner and domestic and sexual violence offenders that requires the
77     public and private providers comply with the best practices described in Subsection (5)(a); and
78          (6) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Administrative Rulemaking
79     Act, to implement this part.
80          Section 5. Section 63M-7-801 is enacted to read:
81     
Part 8. Domestic Violence Offender Task Force

82          63M-7-801. Title.
83          This part is known as the "Domestic Violence Offender Task Force."
84          Section 6. Section 63M-7-802 is enacted to read:
85          63M-7-802. Definitions.
86          As used in this part:
87          (1) "Commission" means the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice
88     created in Section 63M-7-201.
89          (2) "Task force" means the Domestic Violence Offender Task Force created in Section

90     63M-7-803.
91          Section 7. Section 63M-7-803 is enacted to read:
92          63M-7-803. Domestic Violence Offender Task Force -- Creation -- Membership --
93     Quorum -- Per diem -- Staff support -- Meetings.
94          (1) There is created the Domestic Violence Offender Task Force within the
95     commission consisting of the following members:
96          (a) the executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's
97     designee;
98          (b) the executive director of the Department of Human Services, or the executive
99     director's designee;
100          (c) the executive director of the Department of Health, or the executive director's
101     designee;
102          (d) the director of the Office for Victims of Crime, or the director's designee;
103          (e) one judge appointed by the presiding officer of the Utah Judicial Council;
104          (f) one individual who represents the Administrative Office of the Courts appointed by
105     the state court administrator; and
106          (g) nine individuals appointed by the executive director of the commission, including:
107          (i) a clinical social worker, a marriage and family therapist, a professional counselor,
108     and a psychologist licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice
109     Act;
110          (ii) an individual who represents an association of criminal defense attorneys;
111          (iii) an individual who represents an association of prosecuting attorneys;
112          (iv) an individual who represents law enforcement;
113          (v) an individual who represents an association of criminal justice victim advocates;
114     and
115          (vi) an individual who represents a nonprofit organization that provides domestic
116     violence victim advocate services.
117          (2) (a) A member may not serve on the task force for more than eight consecutive
118     years.
119          (b) If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the task force appointed under Subsection
120     (1), the member shall be replaced in the same manner in which the original appointment was

121     made.
122          (c) A member of the task force serves until the member's successor is appointed.
123          (3) The members of the task force shall vote on a chair and co-chair of the task force to
124     serve for two years.
125          (4) (a) A majority of the task force members constitutes a quorum.
126          (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes an action of the task force.
127          (5) A task force member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's
128     service on the task force, but may receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses
129     incurred as a task force member at the rates established by the Division of Finance under:
130          (a) Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107; and
131          (b) rules made by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
132          (6) The commission shall provide staff support to the task force.
133          (7) The task force shall meet at least quarterly on a date the task force sets.
134          Section 8. Section 63M-7-804 is enacted to read:
135          63M-7-804. Task force duties.
136          (1) The task force shall advise and make recommendations to the Office on Domestic
137     and Sexual Violence created in Section 63M-7-703.
138          (2) As part of the task force's duties under Subsection (1), the task force shall:
139          (a) research standardized procedures and methods for intimate partner and domestic
140     violence offender evaluation, intervention, treatment, and monitoring that prioritize physical
141     and psychological safety of victims; and
142          (b) identify best practices for intimate partner and domestic and sexual violence
143     evaluation, intervention, treatment, and monitoring applicable to the state's needs that:
144          (i) are based on scientific research to address an individual's intimate partner and
145     domestic violence risk factors; and
146          (ii) incorporate evidence-based trauma informed care to enhance the quality and
147     continuity of intervention and treatment.