Utah governor visits YWCA to sign series of family support, domestic violence bills

SALT LAKE CITY — A new set of Utah laws aims to protect families, children and victims of domestic violence.

Bills signed Tuesday by Gov. Spencer Cox include a previously signed bill requiring police to conduct lethality assessments when responding to reports of domestic violence, as well as bills making it easier for victims to terminate rental agreements, creating a workplace violence protective order and expanding Medicaid coverage for women postpartum for 12 months after they give birth.

"Our state is only as strong as our families," Cox said in a tweet. "Today we signed bills focused on protecting and supporting families and children in Utah — including historic domestic violence legislation."

Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson were joined at the ceremonial signing by several state lawmakers at the YWCA of Utah, where domestic violence victims can get help and access to various resources.

"For 117 years, YWCA of Utah has been dedicated to making Utah a safer, healthier, more inclusive place for all of our neighbors, communities and individuals," CEO Liz Owens said. "Working together we will all continue to provide hope and light to Utah families for generations to come."

Here are some of the bills signed by Cox and what they do:

• HB314 makes it easier for people who are leaving an abusive relationship to break the terms of a rental contract or lease, so they aren't stuck in a lease with their abuser.
• SB117 requires officers to ask a series of questions to determine lethality risk when responding to reports of domestic violence between intimate partners. It also provides funding to create a database of assessment data for officers to access information about previous offenses by alleged aggressors.
• HB43 creates a domestic violence task force to collect data and make policy recommendations to the Legislature.
• HB199 prohibits police from returning a voluntarily committed firearm to an owner if the owner is a restricted person arrested or booked on a felony domestic violence offense.
• HB244 creates the Utah Services Commission to look into improvements in victim services in the state.
• HB324 allows employers to request a workplace protection order if they believe someone has committed workplace violence against the company or an employee.
• SB133 expands Medicaid coverage for postpartum women to 12 months after birth, up from the current 60 days. "This is an incredible win for the state of Utah," said a news release on the governor's website.

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