Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed 103 bills into law Friday, nearly a quarter of the more than 450 passed in the recent legislative session.

While some measures could double as sleep aids, others have been strikingly more controversial.

Rep. Brad Dee's HB64 authorizes the state Attorney General to establish a multi-agency strike force of federal, state and local law enforcement

officials to crack down on felony crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

"We're very glad he signed it," said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

"We will focus on drug dealers, human traffickers, gang bangers and major identity theft."

His office will receive $891,000 in federal stimulus funds that will be used for this purpose through 2010. The bill takes effect on July 1.

Some community activists voiced concerns about the need for the bill and where it could lead.

"There are already laws on the books dealing with drug trafficking and smugglers at the state and federal level," said Tony Yapias, director

of Hispanic affairs under former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt.

"We're also concerned about racial profiling," said Yapias, pointing to a recent report by the federal General Accountability Office, the

investigative arm of Congress. The study said federal-local partnerships of this kind in other states often resulted in arrests and deportations for minor crimes such as speeding.

Huntsman also signed three abortion bills. Rep. Kenneth Sumsion's HB114 establishes a public fund for private donors to help pay for legal costs when state abortion law is challenged. Rep. Carl Wimmer's HB222 requires telling women seeking abortion that fetal anesthesia is available, and Rep. Paul Ray's HB90 cracks down on illegal abortion and amending the definition of viability of a fetus.

"We're most concerned about HB90," said Missy Bird, executive director of the Planned Parenthood Action Council. "It redefines viability and the definition they put into code is constitutionally suspect."

Bird said she worries about the chilling effect it will have on physicians doing their jobs.

"It's dangerous ground," Bird noted of the gray area the new definition inserts in the law. "HB90 raises the possibility that a woman would not be able to make those decisions in conjunction with her medical provider."

Lisa Roskelley, Huntsman's spokeswoman, said the governor is pro-life and supported the bill for that reason.

However, she said, he would leave any legal questions to the courts.

"The beauty of the system that we all live in is that the legislative branch passes laws, the executive branch implements them," Roskelley said. "And it is up to the judiciary to hear those legal concerns."

Huntsman also signed amendments to election law that had been opposed by voting-rights groups, including the Utah League of Women Voters.

HB126 requires voters to produce photo ID at polling places.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

Review Some of the bills signed into law

Here is a partial list of bills signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Friday. A full list can be viewed at sltrib.com

HB64 Authorizes the creation of a joint federal-state strike force to target major crimes by undocumented immigrants; Rep. Brad Dee.

HB90 Enhances penalties for performing an illegal abortion and defines the viability of a fetus in a way that may not require a likelihood of sustained survival outside the womb.

HB126 Requires voters to show photo ID at the polling place; Rep. Bradley Daw.

HB179 Allows the state to trade land on which ancient Indian village was uncovered to be site of a commuter rail station; Rep. Kerry Gibson.

HB222 Requires physicians to inform women seeking abortions of the option for fetal anesthesia; Rep. Carl Wimmer.

SB16 Cracks down on loitering by gang members; Sen. Jon Greiner.

SB156 Tightens disclosure restrictions of lobbyist gifts to elected officials; Sen. Greg Bell.

SB173 Removes emotional support animals and psychiatric therapy animals from list of service animals recognized in Utah law; Sen. Margaret Dayton.