Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 185 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Pitcher, Stephanie

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• modifies provisions concerning compensatory service in lieu of a criminal fine; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

3
76-3-301.7
0
Compensatory Service in Lieu of Fine Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher
House Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions concerning compensatory service in lieu of a criminal fine.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
modifies provisions concerning compensatory service in lieu of a criminal fine; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
76-3-301.7
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 214
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
76-3-301.7
 is amended to read:
76-3-301.7
. Compensatory service.
(1)
As used in this section
, "compensatory 
:
(a)
"Compensatory 
service" means service or unpaid work performed by a person, in 
lieu of the payment of a criminal fine, for:
(a)
(i)
a state or local government agency;
(b)
(ii)
an entity that is approved as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c) of 
the Internal Revenue Code; or
(c)
(iii)
any other entity or organization if prior approval is obtained from the court.
(b)
"Eligible offense" means a criminal conviction, including a traffic offense.
(2)
When a defendant is sentenced to pay a fine for an 
infraction, class C or class B 
misdemeanor
eligible offense
, the court shall consider allowing the defendant to 
complete compensatory service in lieu of the payment of the fine or account receivable, 
exclusive of any victim restitution imposed.
(3)
A defendant who intends to forfeit bail or who is ordered to pay a fine by the court for 
an 
infraction, class C or class B misdemeanor,
eligible offense
 shall be informed by the 
court of the opportunity to perform compensatory service in lieu of the fine or bail 
amount.
(4)
The court shall credit timely completed compensatory service reported in accordance 
with Subsection 
(5)
 against the fine or bail amount at the rate of 
$10
$12
 per hour and 
shall allow the defendant a reasonable amount of time to complete the service.
(5)
(a)
The court shall provide the defendant with instructions that inform the 
organization:
(i)
about the requirements in Subsection 
(5)(b)
; and
(ii)
that making a written false statement to the court about the defendant's 
compensatory service is punishable as a class B misdemeanor pursuant to Section 
76-8-504
.
(b)
The defendant shall report compensatory service hours to the court in a letter that:
(i)
is on the organization's official letterhead and includes contact information for the 
organization's representative;
(ii)
specifies the number of hours for which the defendant provided service;
(iii)
contains a brief description of what the service involved; and
(iv)
(A)
is signed by an authorized representative of the organization; or
(v)
(B)
is in a form otherwise acceptable to the court.
(6)
The court may refuse to accept compensatory service:
(a)
completed prior to the date of sentencing;
(b)
that has been submitted to another court for credit; or
(c)
completed at an agency or organization or is a type of service that is specifically 
prohibited by the court.
Section 2. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-12-25 2:02 PM