Push to hike terms for crimes against children advances

Rep. Carl Wimmer's push to increase penalties for sex offenders and kidnappers made it through another hurdle on Wednesday.

The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee passed out HB86 with unanimous support.

HB86 would create a series of standard minimum sentences for people who commit grievous crimes against children. Judges would be required to use the sentences unless the cases involved certain mitigating circumstances.

Wimmer, R-Herriman, said he had been working on the legislation prior to being elected.

The bill has the backing of the Attorney General's office, the Sutherland Institute and the Utah Association of Prosecutors.

The Senate floor is next up for the bill.