UtahUtah routes victims' rights complaints through a coordinator
Since May 6, 2026, a designated coordinator helps Utah victim rights committees handle complaints, and criminal justice agencies establish policies for complaints about victims' rights.
What it does
The commission's executive director designates a coordinator to help victim rights committees and handle complaints about victims' rights.
Victims may complain to the commission about rights violations. The coordinator screens complaints and sends those that continue to a committee, but a victim cannot file again about substantially the same facts.
Criminal justice agencies establish a policy for handling complaints that allege a victim's right was violated and provide it to the coordinator when asked.
Argument forVictims and the person complained about may share information at a review meeting, which could help the committee consider different accounts.
Argument againstA victim could be barred from filing again about substantially the same facts, even if they want the committee to review them.
More detail
The commission's executive director designates a coordinator to assist each victim rights committee and receive and process complaints. The coordinator assists each victim rights committee and handles complaints as described in the law. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
The coordinator receives complaints from victims and sends complaints that continue to the appropriate committee for review. Victims may complain about alleged violations of their rights. A victim may complain to the Victim Services Commission about an alleged violation of the victim's right, but may not file again about substantially the same facts as a prior complaint. The coordinator may dismiss a complaint that does not meet the filing rules. For a complaint that continues, the coordinator sends it to the person complained about and that person's employer; if that person is a judge or court employee, the complaint goes to the state court administrator or a designee. The victim and the person complained about may attend the committee meeting and provide information. The committee may request relevant information and records and decides whether a victim's right was violated. The coordinator must notify the victim within 30 days after receiving a complaint, including when dismissing it. The committee reviews a complaint as soon as practicable.
A criminal justice agency establishes a policy for addressing complaints that allege a victim's right was violated and provides the policy to the coordinator upon request. Criminal justice agencies include law enforcement, prosecutors, corrections, and parole agencies. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 4House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 4Senate/ to House
- Mar 4Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 4Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Mar 4Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 4Senate/ circled
- Feb 4Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 4Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 4Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 29Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 29Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 27Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 23Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 21Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 21Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Jan 20House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 20House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Jan 20House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 19LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0034
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0034
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- 2025
- Dec 5LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0034
- Dec 5LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0034
- Dec 5Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 5Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal Justice