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House passes substitute sentencing amendments after emotional debate on hate-crimes language
Summary
After several substitutes and hours of floor debate, the Utah House substituted and passed a second-substitute version of House Bill 85, changing the bill's title and language to focus on sentencing enhancements for crimes that "have the effect of actually causing" a person or group to reasonably fear exercising rights; the measure passed 38-35 and moves to the Senate.
House members passed a second-substitute version of House Bill 85 on Feb. 27, 2003, after an extended and often emotional debate over whether the state should adopt an enhanced-sentencing statute for crimes motivated by bias.
The measure, originally introduced as "Hate Crimes Amendments" by Representative David Litback, was revised on the floor. The second substitute retitled the measure and altered key language to emphasize that offending conduct "accompanied with the intent to cause or has the effect of actually causing a person to reasonably fear" the exercise of constitutional rights. Representative Christiansen, who offered the second…
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