Racial fairness commission may soon be funded, codified

A proposal to codify the commission charged with striving for equality in Utah's criminal justice system passed unanimously out of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on Monday.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Duane Bourdeaux, D-Salt Lake, now moves to the full House.

HB292 would move the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Committee from the courts to the governor's office. It would also fund the commission with $122,800 to hire an executive director and secretary. The 30 commission members — representing minority communities, law enforcement, courts, prosecutors and corrections — would continue to serve on a volunteer basis.

Former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Zimmerman told committee members the commission was formed to answer whether perceived racial bias in the justice system is real.

"Minorities are overrepresented all the way through the system," Zimmerman said, adding the commission "found ways in which the system could use some help."

He pointed to areas such as cultural competency training for law enforcement and a need for translators for suspects who don't speak English.

The commission, which held its inaugural meeting Sept. 7, 2001, is a continuation of the Utah Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Legal System, which released its final report in 2000.