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House adopts office and council to coordinate domestic and sexual violence response
Summary
First substitute HB129 passed after an amendment added a Department of Public Safety seat to the proposed council. Sponsors said the measure addresses fragmented services and aims to coordinate evidence-based responses for victims and offenders.
The Utah House on Jan. 27 passed first substitute House Bill 129 to create an Office on Domestic and Sexual Violence and a coordinating council designed to align victim services, law enforcement, courts and treatment providers across the state.
Representative Snow moved Amendment 1 to the substitute bill to add a Department of Public Safety position to the council and described the change as a "minor adjustment." In floor remarks, Snow said the bill responds to a fragmented system of services: "We have in this state and continue to have a domestic violence problem," Snow said, noting the need for coordinated, evidence-based treatment and support. Representative Johnson supported the bill on the floor and cited increases in domestic violence incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House adopted Amendment 1 and passed the substitute bill on a recorded vote (70 yes, 3 no). Sponsors said the council will include law enforcement, victim advocates, treatment providers and other stakeholders and will seek best practices and recommendations to improve both victim support and offender management.
