'Lori Hacking bill' passes unanimously in first round

HB102, which has come to be known as the "Lori Hacking bill," unanimously passed a preliminary first in the Senate on Monday.

The bill would raise the mandatory sentence for a first-degree murder conviction from 5 years to 15 years to life. The state Board of Pardons determines how many years of a sentence one serves after conviction.

"It's up to the parole board, and it has served us well, but there are some glitches in (the system)," said Sen. David Thomas, R-South Weber, the bill's Senate sponsor.

Although most people convicted of murder serve at least 20 years in Utah, Thomas said when a convicted murderer is sentenced to a minimum of only five years it affects the victim's family emotionally.

If the bill is passed once more by the Senate, it goes to the governor for his signature.