02 February 2018 :

Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee gave a favorable recommendation (5-1 vote, with one absent) to SB30, to expand death penalty. The bill would add correctional officers, special function officers, search and rescue personnel, emergency medical personnel, ambulance personnel, and security officers to the list of potential aggravated murder victims; and clarify that all peace officers and emergency responders as defined in Utah Code are also to be designated as potential victims of aggravated murder. But deputy Salt Lake County district attorney William Carlson warns other states have seen death penalty thrown out if the list of capital crimes grows too long. Utah law already has 60 aggravating factors that can invoke the death penalty. Democratic Sen. Karen Mayne is the primary sponsor, Republican Sen. Paul Ray cosponsored the bill