Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 188 (2020GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Thatcher, D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/28/2020

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• enacts provisions relating to termination of a plea in abeyance agreement based on certain guidelines developed by the Sentencing Commission; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

PLEA IN ABEYANCE AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Daniel W. Thatcher
House Sponsor: 
Stephanie Pitcher
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses plea in abeyance agreements.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ enacts provisions relating to termination of a plea in abeyance agreement based on
certain guidelines developed by the Sentencing Commission; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
77-2a-2
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 30
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
77-2a-2
 is amended to read:
77-2a-2.
Plea in abeyance agreement -- Negotiation -- Contents -- Terms of
agreement -- Waiver of time for sentencing.
(1) At any time after acceptance of a plea of guilty or no contest but before entry of
judgment of conviction and imposition of sentence, the court may, upon motion of both the
prosecuting attorney and the defendant, hold the plea in abeyance and not enter judgment of
conviction against the defendant nor impose sentence upon the defendant within the time
periods contained in Rule 22(a), Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(2) A defendant shall be represented by counsel during negotiations for a plea in
abeyance and at the time of acknowledgment and affirmation of any plea in abeyance
agreement unless the defendant knowingly and intelligently waives the defendant's right to
counsel.
(3) A defendant has the right to be represented by counsel at any court hearing relating
to a plea in abeyance agreement.
(4) (a) Any plea in abeyance agreement entered into between the prosecution and the
defendant and approved by the court shall include a full, detailed recitation of the requirements
and conditions agreed to by the defendant and the reason for requesting the court to hold the
plea in abeyance.
(b) If the plea is to a felony or any combination of misdemeanors and felonies, the
agreement shall be in writing and shall, before acceptance by the court, be executed by the
prosecuting attorney, the defendant, and the defendant's counsel in the presence of the court.
(5) 
(a)
 [
A
] 
Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a
 plea may not be held in abeyance
for a period longer than 18 months if the plea [
was
] 
is
 to any class of misdemeanor or longer
than three years if the plea [
was
] 
is
 to any degree of felony or to any combination of
misdemeanors and felonies.
(b) (i) For a plea in abeyance agreement that Adult Probation and Parole supervises, the
plea may not be held in abeyance for a period longer than the initial term of probation required
under the supervision length guidelines described in Section 
63M-7-404
, if the initial term of
probation is shorter than the period required under Subsection (5)(a).
(ii) Subsection (5)(b)(i) does not:
(A) apply to a plea that is held in abeyance in a drug court created under Title 78A,
Chapter 5, Part 2, Drug Court, or a problem solving court approved by the Judicial Council; or
(B) prohibit court supervision of a plea in abeyance agreement after the day on which
the Adult Probation and Parole supervision described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) ends and before
the day on which the plea in abeyance agreement ends.
(6) Notwithstanding Subsection (5), a plea may be held in abeyance for up to two years
if the plea is to any class of misdemeanor and the plea in abeyance agreement includes a
condition that the defendant participate in a problem solving court approved by the Judicial
Council.
(7) A plea in abeyance agreement may not be approved unless the defendant, before the
court, and any written agreement, knowingly and intelligently waives time for sentencing as
designated in Rule 22(a), Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.