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House approves measures to tighten laws on enticement and coordinate sex-offender registries
Summary
The House passed HB 197 on Feb. 3 with a 74–0 vote. The bill expands the definition of enticement, adds factors for judges considering registry periods for offenders aged 18–21, and requires out-of-state registrants to coordinate with Utah authorities.
SALT LAKE CITY — House Bill 197, titled “Criminal Conduct Amendments,” passed the Utah House on Feb. 3 by a 74–0 vote. Sponsors said the bill closes statutory gaps related to enticement of minors and strengthens coordination and court oversight related to the sex-offender registry.
Representative DeFe, the bill sponsor, told the House the bill closes a loophole so that individuals who contact a parent to entice a minor for sexual abuse materials or exploitation can be charged under enticement provisions. “This bill is one of many bills that has come forth to address child‑abuse issues,” DeFe said. “It ensures that Utah is neither a safe haven for offenders nor a place where children remain vulnerable to exploitation.”
The bill also adds factors for judges to consider when determining registry periods for offenders between ages 18 and 21, including whether there was use of child-abuse material, allowing for adjustments to registration length in those cases. Sponsors told the House there has been an increase in violent child‑abuse material viewed, and judges should be able to consider that when setting registration terms.
HB 197 requires out‑of‑state registrants to provide notice to the Utah attorney general's office and, where the offense originated in another state, in some cases to obtain clearance from the original jurisdiction before establishing residence in Utah. Sponsors said the change is intended to prevent offenders from using interstate moves to evade registration or review processes.
Representative Wilcox, a floor commenter, said the subject is complex and called for a broader review of the registry system, noting that the registry currently captures a range of offenses and that a full overhaul may be warranted. “At the end of the day, our job as policy makers is to keep our constituents as safe as we possibly can,” Wilcox said.
The House adopted a second substitute and passed HB 197 74–0; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
