Legislative Sessions

Youth Service Organizations Amendments, all Utah organizations that provide services to children under 18 must check the names of their staffers or volunteers against two databases of registered sex offenders.

Criminal Justice Revisions, Improves data tracking across the criminal justice system. The bill includes sex offender risk assessment collection and reporting requirements proposed by the Sentencing Commission’s Sex Offense Management Advisory Committee (SOMAC) to track static and dynamic risk scores of individuals on the sex offense registry.

Sexual Offense Revisions, significantly increases prison sentences for repeat offenders of child pornography possession from a typical three-year sentence to potentially eight years or more.

Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Adjustments,  would have reduced the amount of time that a person on the sex, kidnap, and child abuse offender register requiring a lifetime registration to be able to petition for early removal and file an additional petition for removal if previously denied.

State Boards and Commissions Modifications, the Sex Offense Management Board (SOMB) was repealed in state statute. Board renamed the “Sex Offense Management Advisory Committee” (SOMAC).

Offender Registry Amendments, merges the Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry and the Child Abuse Offender Registry into a single registry called the "Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry," changes the length of time an offender must register on the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry when convicted of the crime of enticing a minor. 

Sex Offender Restricted Area Amendments, Increases the penalty for repeat offenders of sex offender restrictions.

Sex Offender Restricted Area Amendments, Restricts an offender on the Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry from entering a homeowners' association, condominium project, or apartment complex swimming pool, park, or playground.

Sex Offense Amendments, Creates the Sex Offense Management Board; describes the duties of the Sex Offense Management Board; clarifies the process the Department of Corrections follows to establish standards for sex offender treatment

Employment Screening Requirements, Ban the Box prohibits certain public employers and contractors from considering certain arrests or criminal convictions or denying employment based on certain criminal convictions.

Sexual Exploitation Amendments, Adds "aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor" to list of lifetime offenses. Amends § 77-41- 102, 77-41-106 and directs the state’s sentencing commission to study penalties associated with child exploitation and make recommendations for additional action.

Sex Offender Restrictions Amendments, Prohibits an offender from serving as a coach, manager, or trainer of a minor. Amends § 77-27- 21.7.

Amendments to Criminal Provisions, Reduces penalty for not registering from not less than 90 days of incarceration to not less than 30 days of incarceration. Amends § 77-41-107.

Sex Offender Registry Amendments, Reduces the offense level for an individual who is under 21 years old and who commits the crime of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Provides that an individual who is under 21 years old and who commits the crime of unlawful sexual activity with a minor does not have to register as a sex offender. Amends §§ 76-5-104, 77-41-102.

Offender Registry Amendments, Provides that an offender is permitted to change their name if the name change is not contrary to the interests of the public, and if they provide a 30-day notice. Requires the UDC to publish the offender's changed name and previous name. Allows an offender to petition the court for removal as early as 10 years after sentencing if they meet certain conditions. Amends §§ 77-41-104, 77-41-105, 77-41-112.

Offender Registry Review,  Allows lifetime offenders to petition the court for removal 20 years after sentencing if they meet certain conditions. Requires the UDC to remove an offender from the registry if their conviction was pardoned.

U.S.D.C. (D. Utah), Case No. 1:08-cv-00064-TC (2008 WL 4427594). Was a United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit case assessing the constitutionality of Utah Code Ann. § 77-27-21.5, a law that requires sex offenders to register their internet identifiers with the state in order to "assist in investigating kidnapping and sex-related crimes, and in apprehending offenders.

Sex Offender Notification and Registration,  Addition of kidnap offenses

Sex Offender Lifetime Reporting Amendments,  established the creation of a two-tier system with the addition of lifetime registration for certain offenses. This bill, as amended, requires lifetime registration for certain sex offenses, while others require registration for a specified period (e.g., 10 years). 

Sex Offender Registry, Registry became available on the internet.

Increased from 5-year to 10-year registration requirement for all sex offenders. Public access began in 1996.

Established 5-year registration requirement for all sex offenders.

Established mandatory sentences on first degree sex offenses and created a registry for sex offenders. It did not include public access/notification and was intended for limited use. The registry started off with 10 listed offenses.