1     
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LAW

2     
ENFORCEMENT AMENDMENTS

3     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox

6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill creates a law enforcement division managed by the Department of Natural
11     Resources.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     defines terms;
15          ▸     creates the Division of Law Enforcement (the division) within the Department of
16     Natural Resources (the department);
17          ▸     establishes the role and qualifications of the division director;
18          ▸     creates the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (the council)
19     and outlines the composition and duties of the council;
20          ▸     exempts the council from requirements under the Open Meetings Act in certain
21     circumstances;
22          ▸     outlines the division's enforcement authority, including the division's ability to
23     initiate civil proceedings;
24          ▸     provides for department employees in the public safety retirement system to remain
25     in the public safety retirement system;
26          ▸     authorizes the division to enter into contracts and agreements;
27          ▸     moves management of the Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Account from the

28     Division of Wildlife to the division; and
29          ▸     makes 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          23A-1-101, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
37          23A-5-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 448 and renumbered and
38     amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
39          23A-5-206, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
40          23A-5-207, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
41          23A-5-317, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
42          23A-10-302, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
43          49-14-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 37, 139 and 290
44          49-15-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 290
45          49-23-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 59, 290
46          52-4-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 169, 422
47          53-13-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 34
48          63L-8-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 34
49          65A-1-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 174
50          65A-3-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 174
51          65A-8-308, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 136
52          77-11a-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 111, 231 and renumbered
53     and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 448
54          77-11a-301, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 448
55          79-2-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 34
56          79-2-204, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
57     ENACTS:
58          79-2-701, Utah Code Annotated 1953

59          79-2-702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
60          79-2-703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
61          79-2-704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
62          79-2-705, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63          79-2-706, Utah Code Annotated 1953
64     RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
65          79-2-707, (Renumbered from 23A-3-211, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023,
66     Chapter 244 and renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103)
67     REPEALS:
68          23A-5-202, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
69          23A-5-203, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
70          23A-5-319, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 103
71          79-4-501, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
72          79-7-401, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280
73     

74     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
75          Section 1. Section 23A-1-101 is amended to read:
76          23A-1-101. Definitions.
77          As used in this title:
78          (1) "Activity regulated under this title" means an act, attempted act, or activity
79     prohibited or regulated under this title or the rules and proclamations promulgated under this
80     title pertaining to protected wildlife including:
81          (a) fishing;
82          (b) hunting;
83          (c) trapping;
84          (d) taking;
85          (e) permitting a dog, falcon, or other domesticated animal to take;
86          (f) transporting;
87          (g) possessing;
88          (h) selling;
89          (i) wasting;

90          (j) importing;
91          (k) exporting;
92          (l) rearing;
93          (m) keeping;
94          (n) using as a commercial venture; and
95          (o) releasing to the wild.
96          (2) "Aquaculture facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 4-37-103.
97          (3) "Aquatic animal" means the same as that term is defined in Section 4-37-103.
98          (4) "Aquatic wildlife" means species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, or
99     amphibians.
100          (5) "Bag limit" means the maximum limit, in number or amount, of protected wildlife
101     that one person may legally take during one day.
102          (6) "Big game" means species of hoofed protected wildlife.
103          (7) "Carcass" means the dead body of an animal or the animal's parts.
104          (8) "Certificate of registration" means a paper-based or electronic document issued
105     under this title, or a rule or proclamation of the Wildlife Board granting authority to engage in
106     activities not covered by a license, permit, or tag.
107          (9) "Closed season" means the period of time during which the taking of protected
108     wildlife is prohibited.
109          [(10) "Conservation officer" means a full-time, permanent employee of the division
110     who is POST certified as a peace or a special function officer.]
111          [(11)] (10) "Dedicated hunter program" means a program that provides:
112          (a) expanded hunting opportunities;
113          (b) opportunities to participate in projects that are beneficial to wildlife; and
114          (c) education in hunter ethics and wildlife management principles.
115          [(12)] (11) "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
116          [(13)] (12) "Director" means the director of the division appointed under Section
117     23A-2-202.
118          [(14)] (13) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources.
119          (14) "Division of Law Enforcement" means the division within the Department of
120     Natural Resources created under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law Enforcement.

121          (15) Subject to Section 23A-1-103, "domicile" means the place:
122          (a) where an individual has a fixed permanent home and principal establishment;
123          (b) to which the individual if absent, intends to return; and
124          (c) in which the individual, and the individual's family voluntarily reside, not for a
125     special or temporary purpose, but with the intention of making a permanent home.
126          (16) "Endangered" means wildlife designated as endangered according to Section 3 of
127     the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.
128          (17) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Department of Natural
129     Resources.
130          (18) "Fee fishing facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 4-37-103.
131          (19) "Feral" means an animal that is normally domesticated but has reverted to the
132     wild.
133          (20) "Fishing" means to take fish or crayfish by any means.
134          (21) "Furbearer" means species of the Bassariscidae, Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, and
135     Castoridae families, except coyote and cougar.
136          (22) "Game" means wildlife normally pursued, caught, or taken by sporting means for
137     human use.
138          (23) "Hunting" means to take or pursue a reptile, amphibian, bird, or mammal by any
139     means.
140          (24) "Hunting guide" means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-79-102.
141          (25) "Intimidate or harass" means to physically interfere with or impede, hinder, or
142     diminish the efforts of an officer in the performance of the officer's duty.
143          (26) (a) "Natural flowing stream" means a topographic low where water collects and
144     perennially or intermittently flows with a perceptible current in a channel formed exclusively
145     by forces of nature.
146          (b) "Natural flowing stream" includes perennial or intermittent water flows in a:
147          (i) realigned or modified channel that replaces the historic, natural flowing stream
148     channel; and
149          (ii) dredged natural flowing stream channel.
150          (c) "Natural flowing stream" does not include a human-made ditch, canal, pipeline, or
151     other water delivery system that diverts and conveys water to an approved place of use

152     pursuant to a certificated water right.
153          (27) (a) "Natural lake" means a perennial or intermittent body of water that collects on
154     the surface of the earth exclusively through the forces of nature and without human assistance.
155          (b) "Natural lake" does not mean a lake where the surface water sources supplying the
156     body of water originate from groundwater springs no more than 100 yards upstream.
157          (28) "Natural resources officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
158     79-2-701.
159          [(28)] (29) "Nominating committee" means the Wildlife Board Nominating Committee
160     created in Section 23A-2-302.
161          [(29)] (30) "Nonresident" means a person who does not qualify as a resident.
162          [(30)] (31) "Open season" means the period of time during which protected wildlife
163     may be legally taken.
164          [(31)] (32) "Outfitter" means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-79-102.
165          [(32)] (33) "Pecuniary gain" means the acquisition of money or something of monetary
166     value.
167          [(33)] (34) "Permit" means a paper-based or electronic document that grants authority
168     to engage in specified activities under this title or a rule or proclamation of the Wildlife Board.
169          [(34)] (35) "Person" means an individual, association, partnership, government agency,
170     corporation, or an agent of the individual, association, partnership, government agency, or
171     corporation.
172          [(35)] (36) "Pollute water" means to introduce into waters within the state matter or
173     thermal energy that:
174          (a) exceeds state water quality standards; or
175          (b) could harm protected wildlife.
176          [(36)] (37) "Possession" means actual or constructive possession.
177          [(37)] (38) "Possession limit" means the number of bag limits one individual may
178     legally possess.
179          [(38)] (39) (a) "Private fish pond" means a pond, reservoir, or other body of water,
180     including a fish culture system, located on privately owned land where privately owned fish:
181          (i) are propagated or kept for a private noncommercial purpose; and
182          (ii) may be taken without a fishing license.

183          (b) "Private fish pond" does not include:
184          (i) an aquaculture facility;
185          (ii) a fee fishing facility;
186          (iii) a short-term fishing event; or
187          (iv) private stocking.
188          [(39)] (40) "Private stocking" means an authorized release of privately owned, live fish
189     in the waters of the state not eligible as:
190          (a) a private fish pond under Section 23A-9-203; or
191          (b) an aquaculture facility or fee fishing facility under Title 4, Chapter 37, Aquaculture
192     Act.
193          [(40)] (41) "Private wildlife farm" means an enclosed place where privately owned
194     birds or furbearers are propagated or kept and that restricts the birds or furbearers from:
195          (a) commingling with wild birds or furbearers; and
196          (b) escaping into the wild.
197          [(41)] (42) "Proclamation" means the publication that is:
198          (a) used to convey a statute, rule, policy, or pertinent information related to wildlife;
199     and
200          (b) issued in accordance with a rule made by the Wildlife Board under this title.
201          [(42)] (43) (a) "Protected aquatic wildlife" means aquatic wildlife except as provided in
202     Subsection [(42)(b)] (43)(b).
203          (b) "Protected aquatic wildlife" does not include aquatic insects.
204          [(43)] (44) (a) "Protected wildlife" means wildlife, except as provided in Subsection
205     [(43)(b)] (44)(b).
206          (b) "Protected wildlife" does not include:
207          (i) coyote;
208          (ii) field mouse;
209          (iii) gopher;
210          (iv) ground squirrel;
211          (v) jack rabbit;
212          (vi) muskrat; or
213          (vii) raccoon.

214          [(44)] (45) "Regional advisory council" means a council created under Section
215     23A-2-303.
216          [(45)] (46) "Released to the wild" means to be turned loose from confinement.
217          [(46)] (47) (a) "Reservoir constructed on a natural stream channel" means a body of
218     water collected and stored on the course of a natural flowing stream by impounding the stream
219     through excavation or diking.
220          (b) "Reservoir constructed on a natural stream channel" does not mean an
221     impoundment on a natural flowing stream where all surface water sources supplying the
222     impoundment originate from groundwater springs no more than 100 yards upstream.
223          [(47)] (48) Subject to Section 23A-1-103, "resident" means a person who:
224          (a) has been domiciled in the state for six consecutive months immediately preceding
225     the purchase of a license; and
226          (b) does not claim residency for hunting, fishing, or trapping in another state or
227     country.
228          [(48)] (49) "Sell" means to offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade, or the
229     act of selling, bartering, exchanging, or trading.
230          [(49)] (50) "Short-term fishing event" means an event when:
231          (a) privately acquired fish are held or confined for a period not to exceed 10 days for
232     the purpose of providing fishing or recreational opportunity; and
233          (b) no fee is charged as a requirement to fish.
234          [(50)] (51) "Small game" means species of protected wildlife:
235          (a) commonly pursued for sporting purposes;
236          (b) not classified as big game, aquatic wildlife, or furbearers; and
237          (c) excluding turkey, cougar, and bear.
238          [(51)] (52) "Spoiled" means impairment of the flesh of wildlife that renders the flesh
239     unfit for human consumption.
240          [(52)] (53) "Spotlighting" means throwing or casting the rays of a spotlight, headlight,
241     or other artificial light on a highway or in a field, woodland, or forest while having in
242     possession a weapon by which protected wildlife may be killed.
243          [(53)] (54) "Tag" means a card, label, or other paper-based or electronic means of
244     identification used to document harvest of protected wildlife.

245          [(54)] (55) "Take" means to:
246          (a) hunt, pursue, harass, catch, capture, possess, angle, seine, trap, or kill protected
247     wildlife; or
248          (b) attempt an action referred to in Subsection [(54)(a)] (55)(a).
249          [(55)] (56) "Threatened" means wildlife designated as threatened pursuant to Section 3
250     of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.
251          [(56)] (57) "Trapping" means taking protected wildlife with a trapping device.
252          [(57)] (58) "Trophy animal" means an animal described as follows:
253          (a) deer - a buck with an outside antler measurement of 24 inches or greater;
254          (b) elk - a bull with six points on at least one side;
255          (c) bighorn, desert, or rocky mountain sheep - a ram with a curl exceeding half curl;
256          (d) moose - a bull with at least one antler exceeding five inches in length;
257          (e) mountain goat - a male or female;
258          (f) pronghorn antelope - a buck with horns exceeding 14 inches; or
259          (g) bison - a bull.
260          [(58)] (59) "Upland game" means pheasant, quail, partridge, grouse, ptarmigan,
261     mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, turkey, cottontail rabbit, or snowshoe hare.
262          [(59)] (60) "Waste" means to:
263          (a) abandon protected wildlife; or
264          (b) allow protected wildlife to spoil or to be used in a manner not normally associated
265     with the protected wildlife's beneficial use.
266          [(60)] (61) "Wildlife" means:
267          (a) crustaceans, including brine shrimp and crayfish;
268          (b) mollusks; and
269          (c) vertebrate animals living in nature, except feral animals.
270          [(61)] (62) "Wildlife Board" means the board created in Section 23A-2-301.
271          Section 2. Section 23A-5-201 is amended to read:
272          23A-5-201. Enforcement authority of natural resources officers -- Seizure and
273     disposition of property.
274          (1) A [conservation] natural resources officer shall enforce the provisions of this title in
275     accordance with the same procedures and requirements for a law enforcement officer of this

276     state.
277          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a [conservation] natural resources
278     officer may seize property or contraband in accordance with Title 77, Chapter 11a, Seizure of
279     Property and Contraband, and Title 77, Chapter 11b, Forfeiture of Seized Property.
280          (b) A [conservation] natural resources officer shall seize protected wildlife illegally
281     taken or held.
282          (3) (a) If a [conservation] natural resources officer seizes wildlife as part of an
283     investigation or prosecution of an offense and the wildlife may reasonably be used to
284     incriminate or exculpate a person for the offense, the [division] Division of Law Enforcement
285     is not required to retain the wildlife under Title 77, Chapter 11c, Retention of Evidence.
286          (b) If the [division] Division of Law Enforcement does not retain wildlife under
287     Subsection (3)(a), the [division] Division of Law Enforcement is required to preserve sufficient
288     evidence from the wildlife for use as evidence in the prosecution of a person for the offense.
289          (4) (a) If a [conservation] natural resources officer seizes wildlife and the wildlife or
290     parts of the wildlife are perishable, the [division] Division of Law Enforcement may donate the
291     wildlife or parts of the wildlife to be used for charitable purposes.
292          (b) If wildlife or parts of the wildlife are perishable and are not fit to be donated for
293     charitable purposes under Subsection (4)(a), the [division] Division of Law Enforcement may
294     dispose of the wildlife or parts of the wildlife in a reasonable manner.
295          (5) (a) The court may order the [division] Division of Law Enforcement to sell or
296     dispose of protected wildlife that is seized by a [conservation] natural resources officer if the
297     [division] Division of Law Enforcement is permitted by law to sell or dispose of the wildlife.
298          (b) The [division] Division of Law Enforcement may not sell migratory wildfowl but
299     the [division] Division of Law Enforcement shall donate the migratory wildfowl to be used for
300     charitable purposes.
301          (c) The [division] Division of Law Enforcement shall deposit the proceeds from the
302     sale of protected wildlife into the Wildlife Resources Account.
303          (6) If the [division] Division of Law Enforcement disposes of wildlife, the court may
304     order the [division] Division of Law Enforcement to:
305          (a) provide the owner of the disposed wildlife with wildlife that is reasonably
306     equivalent in value to the disposed wildlife within 180 days after the day on which the court

307     enters the order; or
308          (b) if the [division] Division of Law Enforcement is unable to obtain wildlife that is
309     reasonably equivalent in value to the disposed wildlife, pay the owner of the disposed wildlife
310     for the non-trophy value of the disposed wildlife in accordance with Subsection 23A-5-312(2)
311     within 180 days after the day on which the court enters the order.
312          (7) (a) If a [conservation] natural resources officer seizes a vehicle under Section
313     77-11a-201, the [division] Division of Law Enforcement shall store the seized vehicle in a
314     public or private garage, state impound lot, or any other secured storage facility.
315          (b) The [division] Division of Law Enforcement shall release a seized vehicle to the
316     owner no later than 30 days after the day on which the vehicle is seized, unless the vehicle was
317     used for the unlawful taking or possessing of wildlife by a person charged with a felony under
318     this title.
319          (c) The owner of a seized vehicle is liable for the payment of any impound fee if:
320          (i) the owner used the vehicle for the unlawful taking or possessing of wildlife; and
321          (ii) the owner is convicted of an offense under this title.
322          (d) The owner of a seized vehicle is not liable for the payment of any impound fee or,
323     if the fees have been paid, is entitled to reimbursement of the fees paid, if:
324          (i) no charges are filed or all charges are dropped that involve the use of the vehicle for
325     the unlawful taking or possessing of wildlife;
326          (ii) the person charged with using the vehicle for the unlawful taking or possessing of
327     wildlife is found by a court to be not guilty; or
328          (iii) the owner did not consent to a use of the vehicle that violates this chapter.
329          Section 3. Section 23A-5-206 is amended to read:
330          23A-5-206. Search warrants.
331          (1) A search warrant may be issued by a magistrate to search for property that may
332     constitute evidence of a violation of this title, rules, or proclamations of the Wildlife Board
333     upon an affidavit of a person.
334          (2) The search warrant shall be directed to a [conservation] natural resources officer or
335     a peace officer, directing the officer to search for evidence and to bring the evidence before the
336     magistrate.
337          (3) A search warrant may not be issued except upon probable cause supported by oath

338     or affirmation, particularly describing the place, person, or thing to be searched for and the
339     person or thing to be seized.
340          (4) The warrant shall be served in the daytime, unless there is reason to believe that the
341     service of the search warrant is required immediately because a person may:
342          (a) flee the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution or discovery of a violation noted above;
343          (b) destroy or conceal evidence of the commission of a violation; or
344          (c) injure another person or damage property.
345          (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (4), a search warrant may be served at night if:
346          (a) there is reason to believe that a violation may occur at night; or
347          (b) the evidence of the violation may not be available to the officers serving the
348     warrant during the day.
349          Section 4. Section 23A-5-207 is amended to read:
350          23A-5-207. Exhibition of license, permit, tag, or device required -- Criminal
351     penalty.
352          (1) A person while engaged in an activity regulated under this title, shall exhibit the
353     following at the request of [conservation] a natural resources officer or other peace officer:
354          (a) the required license, permit, or tag;
355          (b) a device or apparatus in that person's possession used for an activity regulated
356     under this title; or
357          (c) wildlife in that person's possession.
358          (2) A [conservation] natural resources officer who has a reasonable belief that a person
359     is engaged in an activity regulated under this title may stop and temporarily detain that person
360     to demand and inspect:
361          (a) the required license, permit, or tag;
362          (b) a device or apparatus in that person's possession used for an activity regulated
363     under this title; or
364          (c) wildlife in that person's possession.
365          (3) A person is subject to the penalties of Section 23A-5-301 if the person fails to
366     produce for examination to a [correction] natural resources officer or other peace officer any of
367     the required licenses, permits, tags, devices or apparatuses used for an activity regulated under
368     this title or wildlife in that person's possession.

369          Section 5. Section 23A-5-317 is amended to read:
370          23A-5-317. Posted property -- Hunting by permission -- Entry on private land
371     while hunting or fishing -- Violations -- Penalty -- Prohibitions inapplicable to officers.
372          (1) As used in this section:
373          (a) "Cultivated land" means land that is readily identifiable as:
374          (i) land whose soil is loosened or broken up for the raising of crops;
375          (ii) land used for the raising of crops; or
376          (iii) pasturage which is artificially irrigated.
377          (b) "Permission" means written authorization from the owner or person in charge to
378     enter upon private land that is either cultivated or properly posted, and shall include:
379          (i) the signature of the owner or person in charge;
380          (ii) the name of the person being given permission;
381          (iii) the appropriate dates; and
382          (iv) a general description of the property.
383          (c) "Properly posted" means that signs prohibiting trespass or bright yellow, bright
384     orange, or fluorescent paint are clearly displayed:
385          (i) at the corners, fishing streams crossing property lines, roads, gates, and
386     rights-of-way entering the land; or
387          (ii) in a manner that would reasonably be expected to be seen by a person in the area.
388          (2) (a) While taking wildlife or engaging in wildlife related activities, a person may
389     not:
390          (i) without permission, enter upon privately owned land that is cultivated or properly
391     posted;
392          (ii) enter or remain on privately owned land if the person has notice to not enter or
393     remain on the privately owned land; or
394          (iii) obstruct an entrance or exit to private property.
395          (b) A person has notice to not enter or remain on privately owned land if:
396          (i) the person is directed to not enter or remain on the land by:
397          (A) the owner of the land;
398          (B) the owner's employee; or
399          (C) a person with apparent authority to act for the owner; or

400          (ii) the land is fenced or otherwise enclosed in a manner that a reasonable person
401     would recognize as intended to exclude intruders.
402          (c) The division shall provide "hunting by permission cards" to a landowner upon the
403     landowner's request.
404          (d) A person may not post:
405          (i) private property the person does not own or legally control; or
406          (ii) land that is open to the public as provided by Section 23A-6-402.
407          (3) A person who violates Subsection (2)(a) or (d) is subject to the penalty provided in
408     Section 23A-5-301 and liable for the civil damages described in Subsection (7).
409          (4) (a) A person convicted of violating Subsection (2)(a) may have the person's license,
410     tag, certificate of registration, or permit, relating to the activity engaged in at the time of the
411     violation, revoked by a hearing officer.
412          (b) A hearing officer may construe a subsequent conviction that occurs within a
413     five-year period as a flagrant violation and may prohibit the person from obtaining a new
414     license, tag, certificate of registration, or permit for a period of up to five years.
415          (5) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to peace or [conservation] natural resources
416     officers in the performance of their duties.
417          (6) (a) The division shall provide information regarding owners' rights and duties:
418          (i) to anyone holding a license, certificate of registration, tag, or permit to take wildlife;
419     and
420          (ii) by using the public media and other sources.
421          (b) The Wildlife Board shall state restrictions in this section relating to trespassing in
422     the hunting and fishing proclamations issued by the Wildlife Board.
423          (7) In addition to an order for restitution under Section 77-38b-205, a person who
424     commits a violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (d) may also be liable for:
425          (a) the greater of:
426          (i) statutory damages in the amount of three times the value of damages resulting from
427     the violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (d); or
428          (ii) $500; and
429          (b) reasonable attorney fees not to exceed $250, and court costs.
430          (8) Civil damages under Subsection (7) may be collected in a separate action by the

431     property owner or the property owner's assignee.
432          Section 6. Section 23A-10-302 is amended to read:
433          23A-10-302. Conveyance or equipment detainment or quarantine.
434          (1) The division, a port-of-entry agent, a natural resources officer, or a peace officer
435     may detain or quarantine a conveyance or equipment if:
436          (a) the division, agent, natural resources officer, or peace officer:
437          (i) finds the conveyance or equipment contains a Dreissena mussel; or
438          (ii) reasonably believes that the person transporting the conveyance or equipment is in
439     violation of Section 23A-10-201; or
440          (b) the person transporting the conveyance or equipment refuses to submit to an
441     inspection authorized by Section 23A-10-301.
442          (2) The detainment or quarantine authorized by Subsection (1) may continue for:
443          (a) up to five days; or
444          (b) the period of time necessary to:
445          (i) decontaminate the conveyance or equipment; and
446          (ii) ensure that a Dreissena mussel is not living on or in the conveyance or equipment.
447          Section 7. Section 49-14-201 is amended to read:
448          49-14-201. System membership -- Eligibility.
449          (1) Except as provided in Section 49-15-201, a public safety service employee of a
450     participating employer participating in this system is eligible for service credit in this system at
451     the earliest of:
452          (a) July 1, 1969, if the public safety service employee was employed by the
453     participating employer on July 1, 1969, and the participating employer was participating in this
454     system on that date;
455          (b) the date the participating employer begins participating in this system if the public
456     safety service employee was employed by the participating employer on that date; or
457          (c) the date the public safety service employee is employed by the participating
458     employer and is eligible to perform public safety service, except that a public safety service
459     employee initially entering employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2011,
460     who does not have service credit accrued before July 1, 2011, in a Tier I system or plan
461     administered by the board, may not participate in this system.

462          (2) (a) (i) A participating employer that has public safety service and firefighter service
463     employees that require cross-training and duty shall enroll those dual purpose employees in the
464     system in which the greatest amount of time is actually worked.
465          (ii) The employees shall either be full-time public safety service or full-time firefighter
466     service employees of the participating employer.
467          (b) (i) Before transferring a dual purpose employee from one system to another, the
468     participating employer shall receive written permission from the office.
469          (ii) The office may request documentation to verify the appropriateness of the transfer.
470          (3) The board may combine or segregate the actuarial experience of participating
471     employers in this system for the purpose of setting contribution rates.
472          (4) (a) (i) Each participating employer participating in this system shall annually
473     submit to the office a schedule indicating the positions to be covered under this system in
474     accordance with this chapter.
475          (ii) The office may require documentation to justify the inclusion of any position under
476     this system.
477          (b) If there is a dispute between the office and a participating employer or employee
478     over any position to be covered, the disputed position shall be submitted to the Peace Officer
479     Standards and Training Council established under Section 53-6-106 for determination.
480          (c) (i) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council's authority to decide
481     eligibility for public safety service credit is limited to claims for coverage under this system for
482     time periods after July 1, 1989.
483          (ii) A decision of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may not be applied
484     to service credit earned in another system before July 1, 1989.
485          (iii) Except as provided under Subsection (4)(c)(iv), a decision of the Peace Officer
486     Standards and Training Council granting a position coverage under this system may only be
487     applied prospectively from the date of that decision.
488          (iv) A decision of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council granting a position
489     coverage under this system may be applied retroactively only if:
490          (A) the participating employer covered other similarly situated positions under this
491     system during the time period in question; and
492          (B) the position otherwise meets all eligibility requirements for receiving service credit

493     in this system during the period for which service credit is to be granted.
494          (5) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may use a subcommittee to
495     provide a recommendation to the council in determining disputes between the office and a
496     participating employer or employee over a position to be covered under this system.
497          (6) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall comply with Title 63G,
498     Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, in resolving coverage disputes in this system.
499          (7) A public safety service employee who is transferred or promoted to an
500     administration position requiring the performance of duties that consist primarily of
501     management or supervision of public safety service employees shall continue to earn public
502     safety service credit in this system during the period in which the employee remains employed
503     in the same department.
504          (8) An employee of the Department of Corrections shall continue to earn public safety
505     service credit in this system if:
506          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
507     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and
508          (b) the employee:
509          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections;
510          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
511          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and
512          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
513          (9) An employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is transferred
514     from the Department of Corrections' clinical services bureau to provide a clinical or health care
515     service to an inmate as defined in Section 64-13-1 shall continue to earn public safety service
516     credit in this system if:
517          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
518     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and
519          (b) the employee:
520          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health
521     and Human Services;
522          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
523          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and

524          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
525          (10) An employee who is reassigned to the Division of Technology Services or to the
526     Division of Human Resource Management, and who was a member of this system, is entitled
527     to remain a member of this system.
528          (11) (a) To determine that a position is covered under this system, the office and, if a
529     coverage dispute arises, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall find that the
530     position requires the employee to:
531          (i) except for a dispatcher, place the employee's life or personal safety at risk; and
532          (ii) complete training as provided in Section 53-6-303, 53-13-103, 53-13-104, or
533     53-13-105.
534          (b) If a position satisfies the requirements of Subsection (11)(a), the office and the
535     Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall consider whether or not the position
536     requires the employee to:
537          (i) perform duties that consist primarily of actively preventing or detecting crime and
538     enforcing criminal statutes or ordinances of this state or any of its political subdivisions;
539          (ii) perform duties that consist primarily of providing community protection; and
540          (iii) respond to situations involving threats to public safety and make emergency
541     decisions affecting the lives and health of others.
542          (12) If a subcommittee is used to recommend the determination of disputes to the
543     Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, the subcommittee shall comply with the
544     requirements of Subsection (11) in making the subcommittee's recommendation.
545          (13) A final order of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council regarding a
546     dispute is a final agency action for purposes of Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative
547     Procedures Act.
548          (14) Except as provided under Subsection (15), if a participating employer's public
549     safety service employees are not covered by this system or under Chapter 15, Public Safety
550     Noncontributory Retirement Act, as of January 1, 1998, those public safety service employees
551     who may otherwise qualify for membership in this system shall, at the discretion of the
552     participating employer, remain in their current retirement system.
553          (15) (a) A public safety service employee employed by an airport police department,
554     which elects to cover the airport police department's public safety service employees under the

555     Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System under Subsection (14), may elect to remain
556     in the public safety service employee's current retirement system.
557          (b) The public safety service employee's election to remain in the current retirement
558     system under Subsection (15)(a):
559          (i) shall be made at the time the employer elects to move the employer's public safety
560     service employees to a public safety retirement system;
561          (ii) documented by written notice to the participating employer; and
562          (iii) is irrevocable.
563          (16) (a) Subject to Subsection [(17)] (18), beginning July 1, 2015, a public safety
564     service employee who is a dispatcher employed by:
565          (i) the state shall be eligible for service credit in this system; and
566          (ii) a participating employer other than the state shall be eligible for service credit in
567     this system if the dispatcher's participating employer elects to cover the participating
568     employer's dispatchers under this system.
569          (b) A participating employer's election to cover the participating employer's dispatchers
570     under this system under Subsection (16)(a)(ii) is irrevocable and shall be documented by a
571     resolution adopted by the governing body of the participating employer in accordance with
572     rules made by the office.
573          (c) A dispatcher's service before July 1, 2015, or before a date specified by resolution
574     of a participating employer under Subsection (16)(b), is not eligible for service credit in this
575     system.
576          (17) A public safety employee employed with the Department of Natural Resources on
577     or before July 1, 2024, shall continue to earn public safety credit in this system, if the public
578     safety employee:
579          (a) qualifies to earn a public safety credit under the provisions of this section; or
580          (b) (i) reaches ten years of service with the Department of Natural Resources on or
581     before July 1, 2026;
582          (ii) serves the Department of Natural Resources in a position that was eligible to
583     receive a service credit in this system before July 1, 2024, but is no longer eligible for a service
584     credit in this system on or after July 1, 2024;
585          (iii) remains employed with the Department of Natural Resources; and

586          (iv) serves within the Department of Natural Resources as:
587          (A) a division director;
588          (B) a deputy division director;
589          (C) a region manager or supervisor;
590          (D) a program manager;
591          (E) a park manager; or
592          (F) an assistant park manager.
593          [(17)] (18) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person initially
594     entering employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2011, who does not have
595     service credit accrued before July 1, 2011, in a Tier I system or plan administered by the board,
596     may not participate in this system.
597          Section 8. Section 49-15-201 is amended to read:
598          49-15-201. System membership -- Eligibility.
599          (1) (a) A public safety service employee employed by the state after July 1, 1989, but
600     before July 1, 2011, is eligible for service credit in this system.
601          (b) A public safety service employee employed by the state before July 1, 1989, may
602     either elect to receive service credit in this system or continue to receive service credit under
603     the system established under Chapter 14, Public Safety Contributory Retirement Act, by
604     following the procedures established by the board under this chapter.
605          (2) (a) Public safety service employees of a participating employer other than the state
606     that elected on or before July 1, 1989, to remain in the Public Safety Contributory Retirement
607     System shall be eligible only for service credit in that system.
608          (b) (i) A participating employer other than the state that elected on or before July 1,
609     1989, to participate in this system shall, have allowed, before July 1, 1989, a public safety
610     service employee to elect to participate in either this system or the Public Safety Contributory
611     Retirement System.
612          (ii) Except as expressly allowed by this title, the election of the public safety service
613     employee is final and may not be changed.
614          (c) A public safety service employee hired by a participating employer other than the
615     state after July 1, 1989, but before July 1, 2011, shall become a member in this system.
616          (d) A public safety service employee of a participating employer other than the state

617     who began participation in this system after July 1, 1989, but before July 1, 2011, is only
618     eligible for service credit in this system.
619          (e) A person initially entering employment with a participating employer on or after
620     July 1, 2011, who does not have service credit accrued before July 1, 2011, in a Tier I system
621     or plan administered by the board, may not participate in this system.
622          (3) (a) (i) A participating employer that has public safety service and firefighter service
623     employees that require cross-training and duty shall enroll those dual purpose employees in the
624     system in which the greatest amount of time is actually worked.
625          (ii) The employees shall either be full-time public safety service or full-time firefighter
626     service employees of the participating employer.
627          (b) (i) Before transferring a dual purpose employee from one system to another, the
628     participating employer shall receive written permission from the office.
629          (ii) The office may request documentation to verify the appropriateness of the transfer.
630          (4) The board may combine or segregate the actuarial experience of participating
631     employers in this system for the purpose of setting contribution rates.
632          (5) (a) (i) Each participating employer participating in this system shall annually
633     submit to the office a schedule indicating the positions to be covered under this system in
634     accordance with this chapter.
635          (ii) The office may require documentation to justify the inclusion of any position under
636     this system.
637          (b) If there is a dispute between the office and a participating employer or employee
638     over any position to be covered, the disputed position shall be submitted to the Peace Officer
639     Standards and Training Council established under Section 53-6-106 for determination.
640          (c) (i) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council's authority to decide
641     eligibility for public safety service credit is limited to claims for coverage under this system for
642     time periods after July 1, 1989.
643          (ii) A decision of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may not be applied
644     to service credit earned in another system before July 1, 1989.
645          (iii) Except as provided under Subsection (5)(c)(iv), a decision of the Peace Officer
646     Standards and Training Council granting a position coverage under this system may only be
647     applied prospectively from the date of that decision.

648          (iv) A decision of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council granting a position
649     coverage under this system may be applied retroactively only if:
650          (A) the participating employer covered other similarly situated positions under this
651     system during the time period in question; and
652          (B) the position otherwise meets all eligibility requirements for receiving service credit
653     in this system during the period for which service credit is to be granted.
654          (6) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may use a subcommittee to
655     provide a recommendation to the council in determining disputes between the office and a
656     participating employer or employee over a position to be covered under this system.
657          (7) The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall comply with Title 63G,
658     Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, in resolving coverage disputes in this system.
659          (8) A public safety service employee who is transferred or promoted to an
660     administration position requiring the performance of duties that consist primarily of
661     management or supervision of public safety service employees shall continue to earn public
662     safety service credit in this system during the period in which the employee remains employed
663     in the same department.
664          (9) An employee of the Department of Corrections shall continue to earn public safety
665     service credit in this system if:
666          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
667     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and
668          (b) the employee:
669          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections;
670          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
671          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and
672          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
673          (10) An employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is transferred
674     from the Department of Corrections' clinical services bureau to provide a clinical or health care
675     service to an inmate as defined in Section 64-13-1 shall continue to earn public safety service
676     credit in this system if:
677          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
678     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and

679          (b) the employee:
680          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health
681     and Human Services;
682          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
683          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and
684          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
685          (11) Any employee who is reassigned to the Division of Technology Services or to the
686     Division of Human Resource Management, and who was a member in this system, shall be
687     entitled to remain a member in this system.
688          (12) (a) To determine that a position is covered under this system, the office and, if a
689     coverage dispute arises, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall find that the
690     position requires the employee to:
691          (i) except for a dispatcher, place the employee's life or personal safety at risk; and
692          (ii) complete training as provided in Section 53-6-303, 53-13-103, 53-13-104, or
693     53-13-105.
694          (b) If a position satisfies the requirements of Subsection (12)(a), the office and Peace
695     Officer Standards and Training Council shall consider whether the position requires the
696     employee to:
697          (i) perform duties that consist primarily of actively preventing or detecting crime and
698     enforcing criminal statutes or ordinances of this state or any of its political subdivisions;
699          (ii) perform duties that consist primarily of providing community protection; and
700          (iii) respond to situations involving threats to public safety and make emergency
701     decisions affecting the lives and health of others.
702          (13) If a subcommittee is used to recommend the determination of disputes to the
703     Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, the subcommittee shall comply with the
704     requirements of Subsection (12) in making the subcommittee's recommendation.
705          (14) A final order of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council regarding a
706     dispute is a final agency action for purposes of Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative
707     Procedures Act.
708          (15) Except as provided under Subsection (16), if a participating employer's public
709     safety service employees are not covered by this system or under Chapter 14, Public Safety

710     Contributory Retirement Act, as of January 1, 1998, those public safety service employees who
711     may otherwise qualify for membership in this system shall, at the discretion of the participating
712     employer, remain in their current retirement system.
713          (16) (a) A public safety service employee employed by an airport police department,
714     which elects to cover the airport police department's public safety service employees under the
715     Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System under Subsection [(14)] (15), may elect to
716     remain in the public safety service employee's current retirement system.
717          (b) The public safety service employee's election to remain in the current retirement
718     system under Subsection (16)(a):
719          (i) shall be made at the time the employer elects to move the employer's public safety
720     service employees to a public safety retirement system;
721          (ii) shall be documented by written notice to the participating employer; and
722          (iii) is irrevocable.
723          (17) (a) Subject to Subsection [(18)] (19), beginning July 1, 2015, a public safety
724     service employee who is a dispatcher employed by:
725          (i) the state shall be eligible for service credit in this system; and
726          (ii) a participating employer other than the state shall be eligible for service credit in
727     this system if the dispatcher's participating employer elects to cover the participating
728     employer's dispatchers under this system.
729          (b) A participating employer's election to cover the participating employer's dispatchers
730     under this system under Subsection (17)(a)(ii) is irrevocable and shall be documented by a
731     resolution adopted by the governing body of the participating employer in accordance with
732     rules made by the office.
733          (c) A dispatcher's service before July 1, 2015, or before a date specified by resolution
734     of a participating employer under Subsection (17)(b), is not eligible for service credit in this
735     system.
736          (18) A public safety employee employed with the Department of Natural Resources on
737     or before July 1, 2024, shall continue to earn public safety credit in this system, if the public
738     safety employee:
739          (a) qualifies to earn a public safety credit under the provisions of this section; or
740          (b) (i) reaches ten years of service with the Department of Natural Resources on or

741     before July 1, 2026;
742          (ii) serves the Department of Natural Resources in a position that was eligible to
743     receive a service credit in this system before July 1, 2024, but is no longer eligible for a service
744     credit in this system on or after July 1, 2024;
745          (iii) remains employed with the Department of Natural Resources; and
746          (iv) serves within the Department of Natural Resources as:
747          (A) a division director;
748          (B) a deputy division director;
749          (C) a region manager or supervisor;
750          (D) a program manager;
751          (E) a park manager; or
752          (F) an assistant park manager.
753          [(18)] (19) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person initially
754     entering employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2011, who does not have
755     service credit accrued before July 1, 2011, in a Tier I system or plan administered by the board,
756     may not participate in this system.
757          Section 9. Section 49-23-201 is amended to read:
758          49-23-201. System membership -- Eligibility.
759          (1) Except as provided in Subsections (3) and (4), beginning July 1, 2011, a
760     participating employer that employs public safety service employees or firefighter service
761     employees shall participate in this system.
762          (2) (a) A public safety service employee or a firefighter service employee initially
763     entering employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2011, who does not have
764     service credit accrued before July 1, 2011, in a Tier I system or plan administered by the board,
765     is eligible:
766          (i) as a member for service credit and defined contributions under the Tier II hybrid
767     retirement system established by Part 3, Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; or
768          (ii) as a participant for defined contributions under the Tier II defined contributions
769     plan established by Part 4, Tier II Defined Contribution Plan.
770          (b) A public safety service employee or a firefighter service employee initially entering
771     employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2011, shall:

772          (i) make an election to participate in the system created under this chapter:
773          (A) as a member for service credit and defined contributions under the Tier II hybrid
774     retirement system established by Part 3, Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; or
775          (B) as a participant for defined contributions under the Tier II defined contribution plan
776     established by Part 4, Tier II Defined Contribution Plan; and
777          (ii) electronically submit to the office notification of the member's election under
778     Subsection (2)(b)(i) in a manner approved by the office.
779          (c) An election made by a public safety service employee or firefighter service
780     employee initially entering employment with a participating employer under this Subsection (2)
781     is irrevocable beginning one year from the date of eligibility for accrual of benefits.
782          (d) If no election is made under Subsection (2)(b)(i), the public safety service employee
783     or firefighter service employee shall become a member eligible for service credit and defined
784     contributions under the Tier II hybrid retirement system established by Part 3, Tier II Hybrid
785     Retirement System.
786          (3) (a) Beginning July 1, 2015, a public safety service employee who is a dispatcher
787     employed by:
788          (i) the state shall be eligible for service credit in this system; and
789          (ii) a participating employer other than the state shall be eligible for service credit in
790     this system if the dispatcher's participating employer elects to cover the participating
791     employer's dispatchers under this system.
792          (b) A participating employer's election to cover the participating employer's dispatchers
793     under this system under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) is irrevocable and shall be documented by a
794     resolution adopted by the governing body of the participating employer in accordance with
795     rules made by the office.
796          (c) A dispatcher's service before July 1, 2015, or before a date specified by resolution
797     of a participating employer under Subsection (3)(b), is not eligible for service credit in this
798     system.
799          (4) An employer is eligible to participate in this system if the employer employs
800     emergency medical service personnel and meets the requirements of Subsections (5) and (6).
801          (5) (a) Beginning July 1, 2023, a firefighter service employee who is an emergency
802     medical service personnel employed by a participating employer shall be eligible for service

803     credit in this system if the emergency medical service personnel's participating employer elects
804     to cover the participating employer's emergency service personnel under this system.
805          (b) (i) A participating employer's election under Subsection (5)(a) to cover the
806     participating employer's emergency medical service personnel under this system is irrevocable.
807          (ii) A participating employer shall document an election under Subsection (5)(a) by a
808     resolution adopted by the governing body of the participating employer in accordance with
809     rules made by the office.
810          (c) (i) An emergency medical service personnel's service before July 1, 2023, is not
811     eligible for service credit in this system.
812          (ii) For an emergency medical service personnel employed by a participating employer,
813     the emergency medical service personnel's service before the date the participating employer
814     adopts a resolution described in Subsection (5)(b)(ii) is not eligible for service credit in this
815     system.
816          (6) (a) The fire chief, or if there is not a fire chief for the participating employer, the
817     emergency services director, shall verify that an individual meets the definition of emergency
818     medical service personnel.
819          (b) (i) Each participating employer participating in this system that employs emergency
820     medical service personnel shall submit annually to the office a schedule indicating which
821     emergency medical service personnel positions are covered under this system under this
822     chapter.
823          (ii) The office may require documentation to justify the inclusion of any position under
824     this section.
825          (7) A public safety service employee who is transferred or promoted to an
826     administration position requiring the performance of duties that consist primarily of
827     management or supervision of public safety service employees shall continue to earn public
828     safety service credit in this system during the period in which the employee remains employed
829     in the same department.
830          (8) An employee of the Department of Corrections shall continue to earn public safety
831     service credit in this system if:
832          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
833     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and

834          (b) the employee:
835          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections;
836          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
837          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and
838          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
839          (9) An employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is transferred
840     from the Department of Corrections' clinical services bureau to provide a clinical or health care
841     service to an inmate as defined in Section 64-13-1 shall continue to earn public safety service
842     credit in this system if:
843          (a) the employee's position is no longer covered under this system for new employees
844     hired on or after July 1, 2015; and
845          (b) the employee:
846          (i) remains employed by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health
847     and Human Services;
848          (ii) meets the eligibility requirements of this system;
849          (iii) was hired into a position covered by this system before July 1, 2015; and
850          (iv) has not had a break in service on or after July 1, 2015.
851          (10) A public safety employee employed with the Department of Natural Resources on
852     or before July 1, 2024, shall continue to earn public safety credit in this system, if the public
853     safety employee:
854          (a) qualifies to earn a public safety credit under the provisions of this section; or
855          (b) (i) reaches ten years of service with the Department of Natural Resources on or
856     before July 1, 2026;
857          (ii) serves the Department of Natural Resources in a position that was eligible to
858     receive a service credit in this system before July 1, 2024, but is no longer eligible for a service
859     credit in this system on or after July 1, 2024;
860          (iii) remains employed with the Department of Natural Resources; and
861          (iv) serves within the Department of Natural Resources as:
862          (A) a division director;
863          (B) a deputy division director;
864          (C) a region manager or supervisor;

865          (D) a program manager;
866          (E) a park manager; or
867          (F) an assistant park manger.
868          Section 10. Section 52-4-204 is amended to read:
869          52-4-204. Closed meeting held upon vote of members -- Business -- Reasons for
870     meeting recorded.
871          (1) A closed meeting may be held if:
872          (a) (i) a quorum is present;
873          (ii) the meeting is an open meeting for which notice has been given under Section
874     52-4-202; and
875          (iii) (A) two-thirds of the members of the public body present at the open meeting vote
876     to approve closing the meeting;
877          (B) for a meeting that is required to be closed under Section 52-4-205, if a majority of
878     the members of the public body present at an open meeting vote to approve closing the
879     meeting;
880          (C) for an ethics committee of the Legislature that is conducting an open meeting for
881     the purpose of reviewing an ethics complaint, a majority of the members present vote to
882     approve closing the meeting for the purpose of seeking or obtaining legal advice on legal,
883     evidentiary, or procedural matters, or for conducting deliberations to reach a decision on the
884     complaint;
885          (D) for the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission established in Section
886     63A-15-201 that is conducting an open meeting for the purpose of reviewing an ethics
887     complaint in accordance with Section 63A-15-701, a majority of the members present vote to
888     approve closing the meeting for the purpose of seeking or obtaining legal advice on legal,
889     evidentiary, or procedural matters, or for conducting deliberations to reach a decision on the
890     complaint;
891          (E) for a project entity that is conducting an open meeting for the purposes of
892     determining the value of an asset, developing a strategy related to the sale or use of that asset;
893          (F) for a project entity that is conducting an open meeting for purposes of discussing a
894     business decision, the disclosure of which could cause commercial injury to, or confer a
895     competitive advantage upon a potential or actual competitor of, the project entity; or

896          (G) for a project entity that is conducting an open meeting for purposes of discussing a
897     record, the disclosure of which could cause commercial injury to, or confer a competitive
898     advantage upon a potential competitor of, the project entity; or
899          (b) (i) for the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, the closed meeting is
900     convened for the purpose of conducting business relating to the receipt or review of an ethics
901     complaint, if public notice of the closed meeting is given under Section 52-4-202, with the
902     agenda for the meeting stating that the meeting will be closed for the purpose of "conducting
903     business relating to the receipt or review of ethics complaints";
904          (ii) for the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission established in Section
905     63A-15-201, the closed meeting is convened for the purpose of conducting business relating to
906     the preliminary review of an ethics complaint in accordance with Section 63A-15-602, if public
907     notice of the closed meeting is given under Section 52-4-202, with the agenda for the meeting
908     stating that the meeting will be closed for the purpose of "conducting business relating to the
909     review of ethics complaints";
910          (iii) for the Independent Executive Branch Ethics Commission created in Section
911     63A-14-202, the closed meeting is convened for the purpose of conducting business relating to
912     an ethics complaint, if public notice of the closed meeting is given under Section 52-4-202,
913     with the agenda for the meeting stating that the meeting will be closed for the purpose of
914     "conducting business relating to an ethics complaint"; [or]
915          (iv) for the Data Security Management Council created in Section 63A-16-701, the
916     closed meeting is convened in accordance with Subsection 63A-16-701(7), if public notice of
917     the closed meeting is given under Section 52-4-202, with the agenda for the meeting stating
918     that the meeting will be closed for the purpose of "conducting business relating to information
919     technology security[.]"; or
920          (v) for the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Coordinating Council created in
921     Section 79-2-703, the closed meeting is convened for the purpose of conducting business
922     related to the deployment of law enforcement or security personnel, if public notice of the
923     closed meeting is given under Section 52-4-202, with the agenda for the meeting stating that
924     the meeting will be closed for the purpose of "conducting business relating to the deployment
925     of law enforcement or security personnel."
926          (2) A closed meeting is not allowed unless each matter discussed in the closed meeting

927     is permitted under Section 52-4-205.
928          (3) (a) An ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, contract, or appointment may not be
929     approved at a closed meeting.
930          (b) (i) A public body may not take a vote in a closed meeting, except for a vote on a
931     motion to end the closed portion of the meeting and return to an open meeting.
932          (ii) A motion to end the closed portion of a meeting may be approved by a majority of
933     the public body members present at the meeting.
934          (4) The following information shall be publicly announced and entered on the minutes
935     of the open meeting at which the closed meeting was approved:
936          (a) the reason or reasons for holding the closed meeting;
937          (b) the location where the closed meeting will be held; and
938          (c) the vote by name, of each member of the public body, either for or against the
939     motion to hold the closed meeting.
940          (5) Except as provided in Subsection 52-4-205(2), nothing in this chapter shall be
941     construed to require any meeting to be closed to the public.
942          Section 11. Section 53-13-103 is amended to read:
943          53-13-103. Law enforcement officer.
944          (1) (a) "Law enforcement officer" means a sworn and certified peace officer:
945          (i) who is an employee of a law enforcement agency; and
946          (ii) whose primary and principal duties consist of the prevention and detection of crime
947     and the enforcement of criminal statutes or ordinances of this state or any of its political
948     subdivisions.
949          (b) "Law enforcement officer" includes the following:
950          (i) a sheriff or deputy sheriff, chief of police, police officer, or marshal of any county,
951     city, or town;
952          (ii) the commissioner of public safety and any member of the Department of Public
953     Safety certified as a peace officer;
954          (iii) all [persons] individuals specified in [Sections 23A-5-202 and 79-4-501] Section
955     79-2-705;
956          (iv) a police officer employed by a state institution of higher education;
957          (v) investigators for the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division;

958          (vi) investigators for the Department of Insurance, Fraud Division;
959          (vii) special agents or investigators employed by the attorney general, district attorneys,
960     and county attorneys;
961          (viii) employees of the Department of Natural Resources designated as peace officers
962     by law;
963          (ix) school district police officers as designated by the board of education for the
964     school district;
965          (x) the executive director of the Department of Corrections and any correctional
966     enforcement or investigative officer designated by the executive director and approved by the
967     commissioner of public safety and certified by the division;
968          (xi) correctional enforcement, investigative, or adult probation and parole officers
969     employed by the Department of Corrections serving on or before July 1, 1993;
970          (xii) members of a law enforcement agency established by a private college or
971     university if the agency is certified by the commissioner under Title 53, Chapter 19,
972     Certification of Private Law Enforcement Agency;
973          (xiii) airport police officers of any airport owned or operated by the state or any of its
974     political subdivisions; and
975          (xiv) transit police officers designated under Section 17B-2a-822.
976          (2) Law enforcement officers may serve criminal process and arrest violators of any
977     law of this state and have the right to require aid in executing their lawful duties.
978          (3) (a) A law enforcement officer has statewide full-spectrum peace officer authority,
979     but the authority extends to other counties, cities, or towns only when the officer is acting
980     under Title 77, Chapter 9, Uniform Act on Fresh Pursuit, unless the law enforcement officer is
981     employed by the state.
982          (b) (i) A local law enforcement agency may limit the jurisdiction in which its law
983     enforcement officers may exercise their peace officer authority to a certain geographic area.
984          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(b)(i), a law enforcement officer may exercise
985     authority outside of the limited geographic area, pursuant to Title 77, Chapter 9, Uniform Act
986     on Fresh Pursuit, if the officer is pursuing an offender for an offense that occurred within the
987     limited geographic area.
988          (c) The authority of law enforcement officers employed by the Department of

989     Corrections is regulated by Title 64, Chapter 13, Department of Corrections - State Prison.
990          (4) A law enforcement officer shall, prior to exercising peace officer authority:
991          (a) (i) have satisfactorily completed the requirements of Section 53-6-205; or
992          (ii) have met the waiver requirements in Section 53-6-206; and
993          (b) have satisfactorily completed annual certified training of at least 40 hours per year
994     as directed by the director of the division, with the advice and consent of the council.
995          Section 12. Section 63L-8-304 is amended to read:
996          63L-8-304. Enforcement authority.
997          (1) The director shall issue rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this
998     chapter with respect to the management, use, and protection of the public land and property
999     located on the public land.
1000          (2) At the request of the director, the attorney general may institute a civil action in a
1001     district court for an injunction or other appropriate remedy to prevent any person from utilizing
1002     public land in violation of this chapter or rules issued by the director under this chapter.
1003          (3) The use, occupancy, or development of any portion of the public land contrary to
1004     any rule issued by the DLM in accordance with this chapter, and without proper authorization,
1005     is unlawful and prohibited.
1006          (4) (a) The locally elected county sheriff is the primary law enforcement authority with
1007     jurisdiction on public land to enforce:
1008          (i) all the laws of this state; and
1009          (ii) this chapter and rules issued by the director pursuant to Subsection (1).
1010          (b) The governor may utilize the Department of Public Safety for the purposes of
1011     assisting the county sheriff in enforcing:
1012          (i) all the laws of this state and this chapter; and
1013          (ii) rules issued by the director pursuant to Subsection (1).
1014          (c) [Conservation officers employed by the Division of Wildlife Resources have] A
1015     natural resources officer employed under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law
1016     Enforcement has authority to enforce the laws and regulations under Title 23A, Wildlife
1017     Resources Act, for the sake of any protected wildlife.
1018          (d) [A conservation officer] A natural resources officer employed under Title 79,
1019     Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law Enforcement, shall work cooperatively with the locally

1020     elected county sheriff to enforce the laws and regulations under Title 23A, Wildlife Resources
1021     Act, for the sake of protected wildlife.
1022          (e) Nothing herein shall be construed as enlarging or diminishing the responsibility or
1023     authority of a state certified peace officer in performing the officer's duties on public land.
1024          Section 13. Section 65A-1-1 is amended to read:
1025          65A-1-1. Definitions.
1026          As used in this title:
1027          (1) "Division" means the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
1028          (2) "Division of Law Enforcement" means the division within the Department of
1029     Natural Resources created under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law Enforcement.
1030          [(2)] (3) "Initial attack" means action taken by the first resource to arrive at a wildland
1031     fire incident, including evaluating the wildland fire, patrolling, monitoring, holding action, or
1032     aggressive suppression action.
1033          [(3)] (4) "Multiple use" means the management of various surface and subsurface
1034     resources in a manner that will best meet the present and future needs of the people of this
1035     state.
1036          [(4)] (5) "Municipality" means a city, town, or metro township.
1037          [(5)] (6) "Public trust assets" means those lands and resources, including sovereign
1038     lands, administered by the division.
1039          [(6)] (7) "Sovereign lands" means those lands lying below the ordinary high water
1040     mark of navigable bodies of water at the date of statehood and owned by the state by virtue of
1041     its sovereignty.
1042          [(7)] (8) "State lands" means all lands administered by the division.
1043          [(8)] (9) "Sustained yield" means the achievement and maintenance of high level
1044     annual or periodic output of the various renewable resources of land without impairment of the
1045     productivity of the land.
1046          [(9)] (10) "Wildland" means an area where:
1047          (a) development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, powerlines, or
1048     similar transportation facilities; and
1049          (b) structures, if any, are widely scattered.
1050          [(10)] (11) "Wildland fire" means a fire that consumes:

1051          (a) wildland; or
1052          (b) wildland-urban interface, as defined in Section 65A-8a-102.
1053          Section 14. Section 65A-3-3 is amended to read:
1054          65A-3-3. Enforcement of laws -- City, county, or district attorney to prosecute.
1055          (1) It is the duty of the [division] Division of Law Enforcement, county sheriffs, [their]
1056     county sheriff deputies, peace officers, and other law enforcement officers within the law
1057     enforcement jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to investigate and gather
1058     evidence that may indicate a violation under this chapter.
1059          (2) (a) The city attorney, county attorney, or district attorney, as appropriate under
1060     Sections 10-3-928, 17-18a-202, and 17-18a-203, shall prosecute any criminal violations of this
1061     chapter.
1062          (b) The counsel for an eligible entity, as defined in Section 65A-8-203, shall initiate a
1063     civil action to recover suppression costs incurred by the eligible entity for suppression of fire
1064     on private land.
1065          Section 15. Section 65A-8-308 is amended to read:
1066          65A-8-308. Enforcement -- Prosecution of violations.
1067          (1) [County] The Division of Law Enforcement, county sheriffs, police, and other law
1068     enforcement officers within their respective jurisdictions are responsible for the enforcement of
1069     this part.
1070          (2) The county attorney or district attorney shall prosecute any violation of this part.
1071          Section 16. Section 77-11a-101 is amended to read:
1072          77-11a-101. Definitions.
1073          As used in this chapter:
1074          (1) (a) "Agency" means an agency of this state or a political subdivision of this state.
1075          (b) "Agency" includes a law enforcement agency or a multijurisdictional task force.
1076          (2) "Claimant" means:
1077          (a) an owner of property;
1078          (b) an interest holder; or
1079          (c) an individual or entity who asserts a claim to any property for which an agency
1080     seeks to forfeit.
1081          (3) (a) "Computer" means, except as provided in Subsection (3)(c), an electronic,

1082     magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high-speed data processing device that performs
1083     logical, arithmetic, and storage functions.
1084          (b) "Computer" includes any device that is used for the storage of digital or electronic
1085     files, flash memory, software, or other electronic information.
1086          (c) "Computer" does not mean a computer server of an Internet or electronic service
1087     provider, or the service provider's employee, if used to comply with the requirements under 18
1088     U.S.C. Sec. 2258A.
1089          (4) (a) "Contraband" means any property, item, or substance that is unlawful to
1090     produce or to possess under state or federal law.
1091          (b) "Contraband" includes:
1092          (i) a controlled substance that is possessed, transferred, distributed, or offered for
1093     distribution in violation of Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act; or
1094          (ii) a computer that:
1095          (A) contains or houses child sexual abuse material, or is used to create, download,
1096     transfer, upload to a storage account, or store any electronic or digital files containing child
1097     sexual abuse material; or
1098          (B) contains the personal identifying information of another individual, as defined in
1099     Section 76-6-1101, whether that individual is alive or deceased, and the personal identifying
1100     information has been used to create false or fraudulent identification documents or financial
1101     transaction cards in violation of Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 5, Fraud.
1102          (5) "Controlled substance" means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-37-2.
1103          (6) "Court" means a municipal, county, or state court.
1104          (7) "Division of Law Enforcement" means the division within the Department of
1105     Natural Resources created under Title 79, Chapter 2, Part 7, Division of Law Enforcement.
1106          [(7)] (8) "Evidence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-11c-101.
1107          [(8)] (9) "Forfeit" means to divest a claimant of an ownership interest in property
1108     seized by a peace officer or agency.
1109          [(9)] (10) "Innocent owner" means a claimant who:
1110          (a) held an ownership interest in property at the time of the commission of an offense
1111     subjecting the property to seizure, and:
1112          (i) did not have actual knowledge of the offense subjecting the property to seizure; or

1113          (ii) upon learning of the commission of the offense, took reasonable steps to prohibit
1114     the use of the property in the commission of the offense; or
1115          (b) acquired an ownership interest in the property and had no knowledge that the
1116     commission of the offense subjecting the property to seizure had occurred or that the property
1117     had been seized, and:
1118          (i) acquired the property in a bona fide transaction for value;
1119          (ii) was an individual, including a minor child, who acquired an interest in the property
1120     through probate or inheritance; or
1121          (iii) was a spouse who acquired an interest in property through dissolution of marriage
1122     or by operation of law.
1123          [(10)] (11) (a) "Interest holder" means a secured party as defined in Section
1124     70A-9a-102, a party with a right-of-offset, a mortgagee, lien creditor, or the beneficiary of a
1125     security interest or encumbrance pertaining to an interest in property, whose interest would be
1126     perfected against a good faith purchaser for value.
1127          (b) "Interest holder" does not mean a person:
1128          (i) who holds property for the benefit of or as an agent or nominee for another person;
1129     or
1130          (ii) who is not in substantial compliance with any statute requiring an interest in
1131     property to be:
1132          (A) recorded or reflected in public records in order to perfect the interest against a good
1133     faith purchaser for value; or
1134          (B) held in control by a secured party, as defined in Section 70A-9a-102, in accordance
1135     with Section 70A-9a-314 in order to perfect the interest against a good faith purchaser for
1136     value.
1137          [(11)] (12) "Law enforcement agency" means:
1138          (a) a municipal, county, state institution of higher education, or state police force or
1139     department;
1140          (b) a sheriff's office; or
1141          (c) a municipal, county, or state prosecuting authority.
1142          [(12)] (13) "Legislative body" means:
1143          (a) (i) the Legislature, county commission, county council, city commission, city

1144     council, or town council that has fiscal oversight and budgetary approval authority over an
1145     agency; or
1146          (ii) the agency's governing political subdivision; or
1147          (b) the lead governmental entity of a multijurisdictional task force, as designated in a
1148     memorandum of understanding executed by the agencies participating in the task force.
1149          [(13)] (14) "Multijurisdictional task force" means a law enforcement task force or other
1150     agency comprised of individuals who are employed by or acting under the authority of different
1151     governmental entities, including federal, state, county, or municipal governments, or any
1152     combination of federal, state, county, or municipal agencies.
1153          [(14)] (15) "Owner" means an individual or entity, other than an interest holder, that
1154     possesses a bona fide legal or equitable interest in property.
1155          [(15)] (16) "Pawn or secondhand business" means the same as that term is defined in
1156     Section 13-32a-102.
1157          [(16)] (17) "Peace officer" means an employee:
1158          (a) of an agency;
1159          (b) whose duties consist primarily of the prevention and detection of violations of laws
1160     of this state or a political subdivision of this state; and
1161          (c) who is authorized by the agency to seize property.
1162          [(17)] (18) (a) "Proceeds" means:
1163          (i) property of any kind that is obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the
1164     commission of an offense; or
1165          (ii) any property acquired directly or indirectly from, produced through, realized
1166     through, or caused by an act or omission regarding property under Subsection [(17)(a)(i)]
1167     (18)(a)(i).
1168          (b) "Proceeds" includes any property of any kind without reduction for expenses
1169     incurred in the acquisition, maintenance, or production of that property, or any other purpose
1170     regarding property under Subsection [(17)(a)(i)] (18)(a)(i).
1171          (c) "Proceeds" is not limited to the net gain or profit realized from the offense that
1172     subjects the property to seizure.
1173          [(18)] (19) (a) "Property" means all property, whether real or personal, tangible or
1174     intangible.

1175          (b) "Property" does not include contraband.
1176          [(19)] (20) "Prosecuting attorney" means:
1177          (a) the attorney general and an assistant attorney general;
1178          (b) a district attorney or deputy district attorney;
1179          (c) a county attorney or assistant county attorney; and
1180          (d) an attorney authorized to commence an action on behalf of the state.
1181          [(20)] (21) "Public interest use" means a:
1182          (a) use by a government agency as determined by the legislative body of the agency's
1183     jurisdiction; or
1184          (b) donation of the property to a nonprofit charity registered with the state.
1185          [(21)] (22) "Real property" means land, including any building, fixture, improvement,
1186     appurtenance, structure, or other development that is affixed permanently to land.
1187          [(22)] (23) (a) "Seized property" means property seized by a peace officer or agency in
1188     accordance with Section 77-11a-201.
1189          (b) "Seized property" includes property that the agency seeks to forfeit under Chapter
1190     11b, Forfeiture of Seized Property.
1191          Section 17. Section 77-11a-301 is amended to read:
1192          77-11a-301. Release of seized property to claimant -- Generally.
1193          (1) (a) An agency with custody of seized property, or the prosecuting attorney, may
1194     release the property to a claimant if the agency or the prosecuting attorney:
1195          (i) determines that the agency does not need to retain or preserve the property as
1196     evidence under Chapter 11c, Retention of Evidence; or
1197          (ii) seeks to return the property to the claimant because the agency or prosecuting
1198     attorney determines that the claimant is an innocent owner or an interest holder.
1199          (b) An agency with custody of seized property, or the prosecuting attorney, may not
1200     release property under this Subsection (1) if the property is subject to retention or preservation
1201     under Chapter 11c, Retention of Evidence.
1202          (2) An agency with custody of the seized property, or the prosecuting attorney, shall
1203     release the property to a claimant if:
1204          (a) the claimant posts a surety bond or cash with the court in accordance with Section
1205     77-11a-302;

1206          (b) the court orders the release of property to the claimant for hardship purposes under
1207     Section 77-11a-303;
1208          (c) a claimant establishes that the claimant is an innocent owner or an interest holder
1209     under Section 77-11a-304; or
1210          (d) the court orders property retained as evidence to be released to the claimant under
1211     Section 77-11a-305.
1212          (3) (a) For a computer determined to be contraband, a court may order the reasonable
1213     extraction and return of specifically described personal digital data to the owner of the
1214     computer.
1215          (b) The agency shall determine a reasonable cost to extract the data.
1216          (c) At the time of the request to extract the data, the owner of the computer shall pay
1217     the agency the cost to extract the data.
1218          (4) If a [peace] natural resources officer for the Division [of Wildlife Resources] of
1219     Law Enforcement seizes a vehicle, the Division of [Wildlife Resources] Law Enforcement
1220     shall release the vehicle to a claimant in accordance with Section 23A-5-201.
1221          (5) If an agency is not required, or is no longer required, to retain or preserve property
1222     as evidence under Chapter 11c, Retention of Evidence, and the agency seeks to release or
1223     dispose of the property, the agency shall exercise due diligence in attempting to notify the
1224     claimant of the property to advise the claimant that the property is to be returned.
1225          (6) (a) Before an agency may release seized property to a person claiming ownership of
1226     the property, the person shall establish that the person:
1227          (i) is the owner of the property; and
1228          (ii) may lawfully possess the property.
1229          (b) The person shall establish ownership under Subsection (6)(a) by providing to the
1230     agency:
1231          (i) identifying proof or documentation of ownership of the property; or
1232          (ii) a notarized statement if proof or documentation is not available.
1233          (c) When seized property is returned to the owner, the owner shall sign a receipt listing
1234     in detail the property that is returned.
1235          (d) The agency shall:
1236          (i) retain a copy of the receipt; and

1237          (ii) provide a copy of the receipt to the owner.
1238          Section 18. Section 79-2-102 is amended to read:
1239          79-2-102. Definitions.
1240          As used in this chapter:
1241          [(1) "Conservation officer" is as defined in Section 23A-1-101.]
1242          (1) "Natural resources officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
1243     79-2-701.
1244          (2) "Species protection" means an action to protect a plant or animal species identified
1245     as:
1246          (a) sensitive by the state; or
1247          (b) threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C.
1248     Sec. 1531 et seq.
1249          (3) "Volunteer" means a person who donates a service to the department or a division
1250     of the department without pay or other compensation.
1251          Section 19. Section 79-2-204 is amended to read:
1252          79-2-204. Division directors -- Appointment -- Removal -- Jurisdiction of
1253     executive director.
1254          (1) (a) The chief administrative officer of a division within the department is a director
1255     appointed by the executive director with the concurrence of the board having policy authority
1256     for the division.
1257          (b) The director of a division may be removed from office by the executive director.
1258          (c) The appointment and term of office of the state engineer, notwithstanding anything
1259     to the contrary contained in this section, shall be in accordance with Section 73-2-1.
1260          (2) (a) The executive director has administrative jurisdiction over a division director
1261     for the purpose of implementing department policy as established by the division's board.
1262          (b) The executive director may:
1263          (i) consolidate personnel and service functions in the divisions to effectuate efficiency
1264     and economy in the operations of the department;
1265          (ii) establish a departmental services division to perform service functions; and
1266          (iii) employ law enforcement officers [and special function officers] within the
1267     department that have all of the powers of a [conservation] natural resources officer and law

1268     enforcement officer, with the exception of the power to serve civil process.
1269          Section 20. Section 79-2-701 is enacted to read:
1270     
Part 7. Division of Law Enforcement

1271          79-2-701. Definitions.
1272          As used in this part:
1273          (1) "Council" means the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Coordinating Council
1274     created in Section 79-2-704.
1275          (2) "Division" means the Division of Law Enforcement.
1276          (3) "Law enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
1277     53-13-103.
1278          (4) (a) "Natural resources officer" means a full-time, permanent employee of the
1279     division who is POST certified as a peace officer.
1280          (b) "Natural resources officer" includes a wildlife officer, as that term is defined in
1281     Section 23A-2-502.
1282          (5) "Peace officer" means any officer certified in accordance with Title 53, Chapter 13,
1283     Peace Officer Classifications.
1284          Section 21. Section 79-2-702 is enacted to read:
1285          79-2-702. Division creation -- Purpose.
1286          (1) There is created within the department a Division of Law Enforcement.
1287          (2) Subject to the priorities defined by the director and the council, the primary
1288     function of the division is to enforce:
1289          (a) Title 23A, Wildlife Resources Act;
1290          (b) Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles;
1291          (c) Title 65A, Forestry, Fire, and State Lands;
1292          (d) Title 73, Chapter 18, State Boating Act;
1293          (e) this title; and
1294          (f) an administrative rule enacted by an advisory board or coordinating council within
1295     any of the department's divisions.
1296          (3) The division may coordinate with county sheriffs, police, and other law
1297     enforcement officers within a law enforcement jurisdiction the division operates to enforce this
1298     part.

1299          (4) This part does not limit or modify the powers and duties of other law enforcement
1300     officers in the state.
1301          Section 22. Section 79-2-703 is enacted to read:
1302          79-2-703. Division director -- Qualifications -- Duties -- Special deputies.
1303          (1) The director is the executive and administrative head of the division.
1304          (2) The director shall demonstrate:
1305          (a) experience as a sworn law enforcement officer; and
1306          (b) law enforcement leadership ability.
1307          (3) The director shall:
1308          (a) enforce the policies and rules of the council; and
1309          (b) perform the duties necessary to:
1310          (i) properly care for and maintain any property under the jurisdiction of the division;
1311     and
1312          (ii) carry out this part.
1313          (4) (a) The director may appoint an individual, on a temporary basis, as a special
1314     deputy.
1315          (b) A special deputy may enforce this part and rules made under this part.
1316          (5) The director may deputize an individual who is a peace officer to assist the division
1317     on a seasonal or temporary basis.
1318          Section 23. Section 79-2-704 is enacted to read:
1319          79-2-704. Natural Resources Law Enforcement Coordinating Council created --
1320     Members -- Purpose.
1321          (1) (a) There is created within the department a Natural Resources Law Enforcement
1322     Coordinating Council.
1323          (b) The council is the policymaking body for the division.
1324          (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 79-2-203, the council's membership
1325     consists of:
1326          (a) the director of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands or the director's
1327     designee;
1328          (b) the director of the Division of Outdoor Recreation or the director's designee;
1329          (c) the director of the Division of State Parks or the director's designee;

1330          (d) the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources or the director's designee; and
1331          (e) the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee.
1332          (3) (a) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall function as the
1333     council's chair.
1334          (b) The director of the division or the director's designee shall function as the council's
1335     secretary.
1336          (4) (a) The council shall hold meetings at least quarterly on the dates set by the
1337     council's chair.
1338          (b) The chair or a majority of the council's members may call a meeting.
1339          (c) A majority of the members of the council present at a meeting constitutes a quorum
1340     for the transaction of business.
1341          (5) The department shall provide staff support for the council.
1342          (6) A meeting held by the council is subject to Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public
1343     Meetings Act, unless otherwise provided.
1344          (7) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
1345     may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
1346          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
1347          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
1348          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
1349     63A-3-107.
1350          (8) The purpose of the council is to:
1351          (a) coordinate, prioritize, and direct the law enforcement needs of the divisions within
1352     the department;
1353          (b) provide for public safety and preserve the peace within the property under the
1354     jurisdiction of the department and the department's divisions; and
1355          (c) carry out the purposes of this part.
1356          Section 24. Section 79-2-705 is enacted to read:
1357          79-2-705. Powers and duties of division -- Enforcement authority -- Ability to
1358     initiate civil proceedings.
1359          (1) An employee of the division who is a POST certified peace officer:
1360          (a) has all the powers of a law enforcement officer and natural resources officer in the

1361     state;
1362          (b) may arrest and prosecute violators of any law of this state;
1363          (c) has the same right as other peace officers to require aid in executing the peace
1364     officer's duties;
1365          (d) may take wildlife in performance of official duties, in accordance with Section
1366     23A-2-207;
1367          (e) may protect property under the jurisdiction of the department or the department's
1368     divisions from misuse or damage;
1369          (f) may preserve the peace on property under the jurisdiction of the department or the
1370     department's divisions;
1371          (g) may serve criminal process; and
1372          (h) may not serve civil process.
1373          (2) The powers and duties conferred upon the director and members of the division are
1374     supplementary to and not a limitation on the powers and duties of other peace officers in the
1375     state.
1376          (3) The division shall have the authority to initiate civil proceedings, in addition to
1377     criminal proceedings provided for in this part, to:
1378          (a) recover damages;
1379          (b) compel performance;
1380          (c) compel substitution;
1381          (d) restrain or enjoin;
1382          (e) initiate any other appropriate action; and
1383          (f) seek appropriate remedies in the division's capacity as the primary law enforcement
1384     authority for the department.
1385          Section 25. Section 79-2-706 is enacted to read:
1386          79-2-706. Division authorized to enter into contracts and agreements.
1387          (1) The division, with the approval of the executive director and the governor, may
1388     enter into contracts and agreements as needed to:
1389          (a) support law enforcement operations for the department;
1390          (b) improve and maintain the property under the jurisdiction of the division; and
1391          (c) secure labor, quarters, materials, services, or facilities for the division according to

1392     procedures established by the Division of Finance.
1393          (2) All departments, agencies, officers, and employees of the state shall give to the
1394     division the consultation and assistance that the division may reasonably request.
1395          Section 26. Section 79-2-707, which is renumbered from Section 23A-3-211 is
1396     renumbered and amended to read:
1397          [23A-3-211].      79-2-707. Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Account.
1398          (1) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the
1399     "Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Account."
1400          (2) The Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Account shall consist of:
1401          (a) nonresident aquatic invasive species fees collected under Subsection
1402     23A-10-304(2);
1403          (b) resident aquatic invasive species fees collected under Subsection 23A-10-304(1);
1404     and
1405          (c) other amounts deposited in the Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Account from
1406     donations, appropriations, contractual agreements, and accrued interest.
1407          (3) Upon appropriation, the division shall use the aquatic invasive species fees
1408     collected under Subsections 23A-10-304(1) and (2) and deposited in the Aquatic Invasive
1409     Species Account to fund aquatic invasive species prevention and containment efforts.
1410          Section 27. Repealer.
1411          This bill repeals:
1412          Section 23A-5-202, Powers of law enforcement section.
1413          Section 23A-5-203, Special deputies -- Appointment -- Duties.
1414          Section 23A-5-319, Interference with, intimidation, or harassment of officer
1415     unlawful.
1416          Section 79-4-501, Peace officer authority of park rangers.
1417          Section 79-7-401, Enforcement in general.
1418          Section 28. Effective date.
1419          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.