Measure would require sex offenders to register if visiting Utah

Sex offenders from other states, whether they're simply passing through on a road trip or here for a long ski weekend, would be required to register with the state within 12 hours under a legislative proposal unveiled this week.

By requiring sex offenders residing in Utah to register their presence, the state has already made a value judgment regarding the importance of identifying those people, sponsoring Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said.

"If it's worth registering one, it's worth registering all," he said.

That said, Clark acknowledged the 12-hour requirement is quite onerous and could be subject to change as the session continues.

"I'm sure that will be an element of debate," he said.

HB318 also would increase the punishment for the failure to register from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony and would require at least one year in jail and one year probation if convicted. It also would require lifetime inclusion on the sex offender registry for offenses such as unlawful sexual activity, abuse or exploitation of a minor and lewdness with a child.

The proposal raises many questions for those charged with enforcing and maintaining the state's sex offender registry, said Jack Ford, spokesman for the Utah Department of Corrections.

"There's a whole litany of issues that go around this," Ford said.

For instance, how would sex offenders know they are required to register within less than a day of crossing the state's border, regardless of their length of stay in Utah, Ford asked.

"It's brand new, so we're not really familiar with how they intend to implement it or notify people entering the state," Ford said.

Sex offenders would "have to accept that responsibility," Clark said, noting that Utah visitors are not given the Utah Code book when they enter the state.

Further, Ford said, the costs to the state — from administrative costs of updating the registry to the increased cost to county jails under the increased sentence called for in the bill — may be prohibitive.

HB318 is just one of several bills dealing with sex offenders expected to be before the Utah Legislature this session.

Others include HB56, sponsored by Rep. Susan Lawrence, R-East Millcreek, which would require incarcerated juvenile sex offenders to register at least 30 days before their 21st birthday and proposals by Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, and Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, that would significantly increase the penalties for sexually abusing children.

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