1     
HUMAN SMUGGLING AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

5     
House Sponsor: Jefferson S. Burton

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the offenses of human smuggling, aggravated human smuggling, and
10     aggravated human trafficking.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     increases the penalty for human smuggling from a third degree felony to a second
14     degree felony;
15          ▸     increases the penalty for aggravated human smuggling from a second degree felony
16     to a first degree felony; and
17          ▸     removes the requirement of "in a single episode" when there are 10 or more victims
18     from the offenses of aggravated human smuggling and aggravated human
19     trafficking.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          76-5-309, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 108
27          76-5-310, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 108

28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 76-5-309 is amended to read:
31          76-5-309. Human trafficking and human smuggling -- Penalties.
32          (1) Human trafficking for labor and human trafficking for sexual exploitation are each
33     a second degree felony, except under Section 76-5-310.
34          (2) Human smuggling under Section 76-5-308 of one or more persons is a [third]
35     second degree felony, except under Section 76-5-310.
36          (3) Human trafficking for labor or for sexual exploitation, human trafficking of a child,
37     and human smuggling are each a separate offense from any other crime committed in
38     relationship to the commission of either of these offenses.
39          (4) Under circumstances not amounting to aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a
40     violation of Subsection 76-5-404.1(4)(h), a person who benefits, receives, or exchanges
41     anything of value from knowing participation in:
42          (a) human trafficking for labor or for sexual exploitation in violation of Section
43     76-5-308 is guilty of a second degree felony;
44          (b) human smuggling is guilty of a third degree felony; and
45          (c) human trafficking of a child is guilty of a first degree felony.
46          (5) A person commits a separate offense of human trafficking, human trafficking of a
47     child, or human smuggling for each person who is smuggled or trafficked under Section
48     76-5-308, 76-5-308.5, or 76-5-310.
49          Section 2. Section 76-5-310 is amended to read:
50          76-5-310. Aggravated human trafficking and aggravated human smuggling --
51     Penalties.
52          (1) An actor commits aggravated human trafficking for labor or sexual exploitation or
53     aggravated human smuggling if, in the course of committing an offense under Section
54     76-5-308, the offense:
55          (a) results in the death of the trafficked or smuggled person;
56          (b) results in serious bodily injury of the trafficked or smuggled person;
57          (c) involves:
58          (i) rape under Section 76-5-402;

59          (ii) rape of a child under Section 76-5-402.1;
60          (iii) object rape under Section 76-5-402.2;
61          (iv) object rape of a child under Section 76-5-402.3;
62          (v) forcible sodomy under Section 76-5-403;
63          (vi) sodomy on a child under Section 76-5-403.1;
64          (vii) aggravated sexual abuse of a child under Section 76-5-404.1; or
65          (viii) aggravated sexual assault under Section 76-5-405;
66          (d) involves 10 or more victims [in a single episode of human trafficking or human
67     smuggling]; or
68          (e) involves a victim trafficked for longer than 30 consecutive days.
69          (2) An actor commits aggravated human smuggling if the actor commits human
70     smuggling under Section 76-5-308 and any human being whom the person engages in
71     smuggling is:
72          (a) a child; and
73          (b) not accompanied by a family member who is 18 years of age or older.
74          (3) (a) Aggravated human trafficking is a first degree felony.
75          (b) Aggravated human smuggling is a [second] first degree felony.
76          (c) Aggravated human trafficking and aggravated human smuggling are each a separate
77     offense from any other crime committed in relationship to the commission of either of these
78     offenses.