Committee approves technical changes to interstate offender-transfer process and modest fee increase

The House Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Committee unanimously recommended HB 134, which updates technical provisions for interstate offender transfers and modestly raises the administrative fee charged when a person on probation or parole seeks to transfer out of state.

Representative Acton presented the substitute and said the changes resulted from the recodification process and agency requests. The bill clarifies that an individual must be under supervision of the Utah Department of Probation and Parole before applying for transfer, increases the longstanding $50 transfer fee to $90 to cover administrative database and extradition costs, and specifies Board of Pardons and Parole requirements when issuing arrest warrants. An assistant chief from the Department of Corrections explained the fee covers national database administrative costs and is partially applied to extradition expenses when a person must be returned to Utah.

Committee discussion was limited, no public testimony appeared in committee, and members voted unanimously to pass the substitute with a favorable recommendation to the House floor.