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Lawmakers hear fiscal notes and proposals to strengthen penalties and prosecution resources for child sexual exploitation
Summary
Multiple presentations urged the committee to fund tougher sentences and prosecution resources for repeat child sexual‑abuse and exploitation offenders, to close perceived sentencing gaps with neighboring states and to support statewide prosecution capacity for CSAM and traveler cases.
Representatives and prosecutors told the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee that Utah needs stronger statutory penalties and more resources to prosecute repeat child sexual‑abuse and computer‑facilitated exploitation offenders.
Representative Steve White presented a fiscal note tied to HB 207 (offense revisions), arguing Utah—s sentencing for some child sexual‑abuse and computer‑facilitated offenses is lower than neighboring states and the federal system. White said the fiscal note would enable statutory changes that raise minimum and maximum penalties for repeat and habitual offenders, close loopholes related to materials showing children being used in abuse and create stronger sanctions for habitual offenders. "How much is a little girl or a little boy worth?" White asked the committee.
Carl Holland, assistant attorney general and section director for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, told the committee that Utah—s penalties for some computer‑facilitated child‑sex crimes are low compared with neighboring states and federal penalties, which encourages reliance on federal prosecutions for repeat offenders. Holland said federal offices are overwhelmed, creating a bottleneck; expanding state penalties and prosecution capacity would allow more cases to be handled locally.
Representative Wilcox and others presented related fiscal notes describing anticipated incarceration costs when travelers and organized networks commit child exploitation in state jurisdictions; those requests were presented as preliminary and subject to refinement. Committee members noted the requests target repeat offenders, travel‑facilitated offending and computer‑facilitated distribution of child sexual‑abuse material (CSAM).
Ending: Sponsors asked appropriators to consider refined fiscal notes and statutory language that would enhance penalties for second and subsequent offenses and increase state prosecution capacity for CSAM and traveler cases.
