facebook-pixel

Utah is about to get a tougher hate crimes law after final legislative OK

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill talks with Sen. Derek Kitchen, D-Salt Lake City prior to the vote in the Senate. SB103 by Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper SB103 sponsored by Daniel Thatcher, R- West Valley City, Utah's current hate crimes bill, moved ahead in the Senate on Monday with a preliminary 19-9 vote. Thatcher's bill would allow judges to increase penalties for a crime if a defendant is convicted of targeting someone based on ancestry, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation. A person must first be convicted of a crime before additional penalties would apply. Under the state's current hate crimes law, only misdemeanor assaults can be enhanced as hate crimes. This update would also enable enhancements for felonies.