1     
AIRPORT WEAPON POSSESSION AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Gricius

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill concerns weapon possession at an airport.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     establishes, with a sunset date, law enforcement reporting requirements concerning
13     the possession of certain types of dangerous weapons in a secure area of an airport;
14          ▸     requires the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to receive, compile,
15     and publish data concerning offenses involving the possession of a dangerous
16     weapon in a secure area of an airport;
17          ▸     adds criminal negligence as a culpable mental state for the possession of a
18     dangerous weapon in a secure area of an airport;
19          ▸     provides limitations on the punishment for certain violations resulting from the
20     possession of a dangerous weapon in a secure area of an airport;
21          ▸     provides, under certain circumstances, that an actor in possession of a dangerous
22     weapon in a secure area of the airport may return to a non-secure area of the airport
23     with the dangerous weapon or may check the dangerous weapon into the custody of
24     the law enforcement agency to be retrieved at a later date;
25          ▸     requires a law enforcement agency to take certain actions regarding the retrieval of a
26     dangerous weapon;
27          ▸     provides limitations on certain local entities regarding criminal prosecution, civil
28     remedies, or other actions resulting from the possession of certain items at an airport; and
29          ▸     provides technical and conforming changes.
30     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
31          None
32     Other Special Clauses:
33          This bill provides a special effective date.
34     Utah Code Sections Affected:
35     AMENDS:
36          63I-2-253 (Superseded 07/01/24), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 7,
37     21, 33, 142, 167, 168, 380, 383, and 467
38          63I-2-253 (Effective 07/01/24), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 7, 21,
39     33, 142, 167, 168, 310, 380, 383, and 467
40          63I-2-276, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 301
41          76-10-529, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 422
42     ENACTS:
43          53-25-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
44     

45     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
46          Section 1. Section 53-25-102 is enacted to read:
47          53-25-102. Airport dangerous weapon possession reporting requirements.
48          (1) As used in this section, "commission" means the State Commission on Criminal
49     and Juvenile Justice created in Section 63M-7-201.
50          (2) Beginning on January 1, 2026, a law enforcement agency having law enforcement
51     jurisdiction over an airport shall annually, on or before April 30, submit a report to the
52     commission detailing:
53          (a) for an offense described in Subsection 76-10-529(2)(a)(i):
54          (i) the number of issued written warnings;
55          (ii) the number of issued citations;
56          (iii) the number of referrals to a detective; and
57          (iv) the number of referrals to a prosecutor; and
58          (b) for an offense described in Subsection 76-10-529(2)(a)(ii):
59          (i) the number of issued written warnings; and
60          (ii) if applicable, the number of issued citations, including the number of individuals
61     who have received more than one citation for the offense.
62          (3) The commission shall:
63          (a) develop a standardized format for reporting the data described in Subsection (2);
64          (b) compile the data submitted under Subsection (2); and
65          (c) annually on or before August 1, publish a report of the data described in Subsection
66     (2) on the commission's website.
67          Section 2. Section 63I-2-253 (Superseded 07/01/24) is amended to read:
68          63I-2-253 (Superseded 07/01/24). Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
69          (1) Section 53-1-118 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
70          (2) Section 53-1-120 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
71          (3) Section 53-7-109 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
72          (4) Section 53-22-104 is repealed December 31, 2023.
73          (5) Section 53-25-102 is repealed on December 31, 2031.
74          [(5)] (6) Section 53B-6-105.7 is repealed July 1, 2024.
75          [(6)] (7) Section 53B-7-707 regarding performance metrics for technical colleges is
76     repealed July 1, 2023.
77          [(7)] (8) Section 53B-8-114 is repealed July 1, 2024.
78          [(8)] (9) The following provisions, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are
79     repealed on July 1, 2023:
80          (a) in Subsection 53B-8-105(12), the language that states, "or any scholarship
81     established under Sections 53B-8-202 through 53B-8-205";
82          (b) Section 53B-8-202;
83          (c) Section 53B-8-203;
84          (d) Section 53B-8-204; and
85          (e) Section 53B-8-205.
86          [(9)] (10) Section 53B-10-101 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
87          [(10)] (11) Subsection 53E-1-201(1)(s) regarding the report by the Educational
88     Interpretation and Translation Services Procurement Advisory Council is repealed July 1, 2024.
89          [(11)] (12) Section 53E-1-202.2, regarding a Public Education Appropriations
90     Subcommittee evaluation and recommendations, is repealed January 1, 2024.
91          [(12)] (13) Section 53F-2-209, regarding local education agency budgetary flexibility,
92     is repealed July 1, 2024.
93          [(13)] (14) Subsection 53F-2-314(4), relating to a one-time expenditure between the
94     at-risk WPU add-on funding and previous at-risk funding, is repealed January 1, 2024.
95          [(14)] (15) Section 53F-2-524, regarding teacher bonuses for extra work assignments,
96     is repealed July 1, 2024.
97          [(15)] (16) Section 53F-5-221, regarding a management of energy and water pilot
98     program, is repealed July 1, 2028.
99          [(16)] (17) Section 53F-9-401 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
100          [(17)] (18) Section 53F-9-403 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
101          [(18)] (19) On July 1, 2023, when making changes in this section, the Office of
102     Legislative Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under
103     Section 36-12-12, make corrections necessary to ensure that sections and subsections identified
104     in this section are complete sentences and accurately reflect the office's perception of the
105     Legislature's intent.
106          Section 3. Section 63I-2-253 (Effective 07/01/24) is amended to read:
107          63I-2-253 (Effective 07/01/24). Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
108          (1) Subsection 53-1-104(1)(b), regarding the Air Ambulance Committee, is repealed
109     July 1, 2024.
110          (2) Section 53-1-118 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
111          (3) Section 53-1-120 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
112          (4) Section 53-2d-107, regarding the Air Ambulance Committee, is repealed July 1,
113     2024.
114          (5) In relation to the Air Ambulance Committee, on July 1, 2024, Subsection
115     53-2d-702(1)(a) is amended to read:
116          "(a) provide the patient or the patient's representative with the following information
117     before contacting an air medical transport provider:
118          (i) which health insurers in the state the air medical transport provider contracts with;
119          (ii) if sufficient data is available, the average charge for air medical transport services
120     for a patient who is uninsured or out of network; and
121          (iii) whether the air medical transport provider balance bills a patient for any charge not
122     paid by the patient's health insurer; and".
123          (6) Section 53-7-109 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
124          (7) Section 53-22-104 is repealed December 31, 2023.
125          (8) Section 53-25-102 is repealed on December 31, 2031.
126          [(8)] (9) Section 53B-6-105.7 is repealed July 1, 2024.
127          [(9)] (10) Section 53B-7-707 regarding performance metrics for technical colleges is
128     repealed July 1, 2023.
129          [(10)] (11) Section 53B-8-114 is repealed July 1, 2024.
130          [(11)] (12) The following provisions, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are
131     repealed on July 1, 2023:
132          (a) in Subsection 53B-8-105(12), the language that states, "or any scholarship
133     established under Sections 53B-8-202 through 53B-8-205";
134          (b) Section 53B-8-202;
135          (c) Section 53B-8-203;
136          (d) Section 53B-8-204; and
137          (e) Section 53B-8-205.
138          [(12)] (13) Section 53B-10-101 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
139          [(13)] (14) Subsection 53E-1-201(1)(s) regarding the report by the Educational
140     Interpretation and Translation Services Procurement Advisory Council is repealed July 1, 2024.
141          [(14)] (15) Section 53E-1-202.2, regarding a Public Education Appropriations
142     Subcommittee evaluation and recommendations, is repealed January 1, 2024.
143          [(15)] (16) Section 53F-2-209, regarding local education agency budgetary flexibility,
144     is repealed July 1, 2024.
145          [(16)] (17) Subsection 53F-2-314(4), relating to a one-time expenditure between the
146     at-risk WPU add-on funding and previous at-risk funding, is repealed January 1, 2024.
147          [(17)] (18) Section 53F-2-524, regarding teacher bonuses for extra work assignments,
148     is repealed July 1, 2024.
149          [(18)] (19) Section 53F-5-221, regarding a management of energy and water pilot
150     program, is repealed July 1, 2028.
151          [(19)] (20) Section 53F-9-401 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
152          [(20)] (21) Section 53F-9-403 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
153          [(21)] (22) On July 1, 2023, when making changes in this section, the Office of
154     Legislative Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under
155     Section 36-12-12, make corrections necessary to ensure that sections and subsections identified
156     in this section are complete sentences and accurately reflect the office's perception of the
157     Legislature's intent.
158          Section 4. Section 63I-2-276 is amended to read:
159          63I-2-276. Repeal dates: Title 76.
160          (1) Subsection 76-5-102.7(2)(b), regarding assault or threat of violence against an
161     owner, employee, or contractor of a health facility, is repealed January 1, 2027.
162          (2) Section 76-7-305.7 is repealed January 1, 2023.
163          (3) Subsection 76-10-529(10), regarding data collection requirements, is repealed on
164     December 31, 2031.
165          Section 5. Section 76-10-529 is amended to read:
166          76-10-529. Possession of firearms, other dangerous weapons, or explosives in
167     airport secure areas prohibited -- Punishment limitations -- Reporting requirement.
168          (1) (a) As used in this section:
169          (i) "Airport authority" has the same meaning as defined in Section 72-10-102.
170          (ii) "Explosive" is the same as defined for "explosive, chemical, or incendiary device"
171     in Section 76-10-306.
172          (iii) "Law enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
173     53-13-103.
174          (b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-10-501 apply to this section.
175          (2) (a) Within a secure area of an airport established pursuant to this section, [a person]
176     an actor, including [a person] an actor licensed to carry a concealed firearm under Title 53,
177     Chapter 5, Part 7, Concealed Firearm Act, is guilty of:
178          (i) a class A misdemeanor if the [person] actor knowingly or intentionally possesses
179     [any dangerous weapon or] a firearm or other dangerous weapon;
180          (ii) subject to Subsection (6), an infraction if the [person] actor recklessly or with
181     criminal negligence possesses [any dangerous weapon or] a firearm or other dangerous
182     weapon; or
183          (iii) a violation of Section 76-10-306 if the [person] actor transports, possesses,
184     distributes, or sells [any] an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device.
185          (b) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to:
186          (i) [persons] individuals exempted under Section 76-10-523; and
187          (ii) [members] a member of the state or federal military forces while engaged in the
188     performance of [their] the member's official duties.
189          (3) An airport authority, county, [or] municipality, or other entity regulating [the] an
190     airport may:
191          (a) establish [any] a secure area located beyond the main area where the public
192     generally buys tickets, checks and retrieves luggage; and
193          (b) use reasonable means, including mechanical, electronic, x-ray, or [any other]
194     another device, to detect [dangerous weapons,] firearms, other dangerous weapons, or
195     explosives concealed in baggage or upon the person of [any] an individual attempting to enter
196     the secure area.
197          (4) At least one notice shall be prominently displayed at each entrance to a secure area
198     in which a [dangerous weapon,] firearm, other dangerous weapon, or explosive is restricted.
199          (5) [Upon] In accordance with Subsection (7), upon the discovery of [any dangerous
200     weapon,] a firearm, other dangerous weapon, or explosive, the airport authority, county, [or]
201     municipality, or other entity regulating the airport, or the employees[,] or other personnel
202     administering the secure area may:
203          (a) require the individual to deliver the item to the air freight office or airline ticket
204     counter;
205          (b) require the individual to exit the secure area; or
206          (c) obtain possession or retain custody of the item until [it] the item is transferred to
207     law enforcement officers.
208          (6) (a) An actor who violates Subsection (2)(a)(ii) on a first offense may receive a
209     written warning for the offense and may not receive a citation or any other form of punishment.
210          (b) An actor who violates Subsection (2)(a)(ii) on a second or subsequent offense may
211     receive a written warning or a citation.
212          (7) (a) If a law enforcement officer issues a citation to an actor for an infraction as a
213     result of the actor's conduct described in Subsection (2)(a)(ii), or provides an oral or written
214     warning for that conduct, the law enforcement officer shall:
215          (i) if the law enforcement officer is able to confirm that the actor may lawfully possess
216     the firearm or other dangerous weapon, allow the actor, at the actor's option, to:
217          (A) check the firearm or other dangerous weapon into the custody of the law
218     enforcement agency so that the firearm or other dangerous weapon may be retrieved by the
219     actor at a later date; or
220          (B) exit the secure area of the airport with the firearm or other dangerous weapon; or
221          (ii) if the law enforcement officer is unable to confirm that the actor may lawfully
222     possess the firearm or other dangerous weapon, check the firearm or other dangerous weapon
223     into the custody of the law enforcement agency so that the firearm or other dangerous weapon
224     may be retrieved by the actor at a later date if legally permitted to do so.
225          (b) If a law enforcement officer checks a firearm or other dangerous weapon into the
226     custody of a law enforcement agency under Subsection (7)(a):
227          (i) at the time the firearm or other dangerous weapon is obtained from the actor, the
228     law enforcement officer, or another law enforcement officer, or an employee who works in the
229     secure area of the airport, shall provide the actor with written instructions on how, when, and
230     where the actor may retrieve the actor's firearm or other dangerous weapon; and
231          (ii) within 72 hours from the time when the law enforcement officer receives the
232     firearm or other dangerous weapon, the law enforcement agency shall determine whether the
233     actor is legally permitted to possess the firearm or other dangerous weapon, and if so, ensure
234     that the firearm or other dangerous weapon is available for the actor to retrieve.
235          [(6)] (8) (a) An individual who is prosecuted for a violation of this section based on the
236     possession of a firearm shall have the individual's firearm returned to the individual in
237     accordance with Subsection 77-11a-402(1)(b) if the individual may lawfully possess the
238     firearm.
239          (b) In accordance with Subsection 77-11b-102(5), a firearm seized under this section is
240     not subject to forfeiture if the charged individual may lawfully possess the firearm.
241          (c) In a prosecution brought under this section, a prosecutor may not condition a plea
242     on the forfeiture of a firearm.
243          (9) An airport authority, county, municipality, or other entity regulating an airport or
244     with local jurisdiction over an airport may not:
245          (a) charge, cite, or prosecute an actor with a different offense under the Utah Code,
246     local ordinance, or another state or local law or regulation for conduct described in Subsection
247     (2)(a)(ii);
248          (b) assess a civil penalty for conduct described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) or (ii); or
249          (c) enact a regulation, ordinance, or law covering conduct described in Subsection (2).
250          (10) A law enforcement agency that issues a written warning, citation, or referral for
251     prosecution under this section shall record and report the information as required under Section
252     53-25-102.
253          Section 6. Effective date.
254          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
255          (2) The actions affecting Section 63I-2-253 (Effective 07/01/24) take effect on July 1,
256     2024.