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- Sen. Todd Weiler proposes a bill to shorten registry time for some Utah sex offenders.
- The bill would allow certain offenses to shift from lifetime to 10-year registration.
- The proposal faces potential opposition and will be reviewed by Utah's legislative committees.
SALT LAKE CITY – A Republican senator is proposing changes to Utah's Sex, Kidnap and Child Abuse Offender registry.
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, filed SB155 Wednesday evening, which would shorten the time some sex offenders are required to spend on the registry.
Weiler said he expects pushback, as he's learned from experience that making changes to Utah's sex offender registry is no easy task.
"This is like my third or fourth attempt at the sex offender database," he said, "only because I keep on getting contacted by these families saying, 'We feel like this has become a lifelong sentence, and we don't think it's fair.'"
People on Utah's registry typically fall into two groups: They're either required to register for 10 years or required to register for life.
Weiler's bill would move certain criminal offenses requiring a lifetime registration to the list of offenses requiring a 10-year registration. It would also allow some people to request early removal from the registry. He said those requests would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
"This bill will not remove anyone from the database," Weiler said. "This bill will give people who believe that they've redeemed their life, they've turned over a new chapter, an opportunity to petition and ask for their case to be reviewed."
The offenses that would change from a lifetime registry requirement to a 10-year registry requirement under the current proposed bill are:
- Human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
- Sexual abuse of a child.
- Sexual exploitation of a minor.
Weiler said he believes lawmakers have a responsibility to review policy from time to time, and that he's not the only one on Utah's Capitol Hill receiving requests from Utahns to review laws related to the registry.
"All of us are getting these inquiries," he said.
Utah's Sex Offense Management Advisory Committee has not yet discussed the bill.
Utah's Victim Services Commission did consider it during a meeting on Friday. Some members voiced concerns and opposition but noted they had not yet discussed the bill with Weiler and plan to.
Weiler said he's open to hearing their feedback and expects the measure to get a committee hearing next week.
