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SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert signed 42 bills Tuesday, including measures creating a white-collar crime offender registry, allowing people with terminal illnesses access to experimental treatments, and restricting the sale of e-cigarettes.
The governor's actions bring the total number of bills from the 2015 Legislature that he's signed into law to 144. Lawmakers passed 528 bills during the 45-day session that ended earlier this month.
Under HB378, the Utah Attorney General's Office is charged with developing and operating what will be the nation's first online registry of white-collar criminals available to the public.
"Whether a criminal wears a white collar or a blue collar, I am a strong supporter of protecting the consumer and the public from fraud and predatory practices," Herbert said. "This bill helps us do that, and I'm proud to sign it."
The list of photos, names and aliases of perpetrators of felony level white-collar crimes, particularly affinity fraud, is intended to help Utahns avoid falling prey to scams that cheat victims out of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
A provision in the new law may also help victims recoup some of their losses by giving offenders a chance to buy their way off the list by complying with their court-ordered sentence, which often includes restitution payments.
Whether a criminal wears a white collar or a blue collar, I am a strong supporter of protecting the consumer and the public from fraud and predatory practices.
–Gov. Gary Herbert
The list is expected to be available by early next year. A first-time offender's name would stay on the list for 10 years, a second-time offender for an additional decade, and a third-time offender for a lifetime.
HB94, known as the Utah Right to Try Act, allows the terminally ill to try medicines that have passed the federal Food and Drug Administration's first approval phase but may be years away from being made available on pharmacy shelves.
Utah is the 10th state to adopt such legislation, promoted by the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute, which advocates for constitutionally limited government. Another 25 states are considering adopting right-to-try laws.
"Of course people should have the right to try promising medicines when they are fighting for their lives," Goldwater Institute President Darcy Olsen said.
HB415 mandates that sellers of e-cigarette products obtain a license or face criminal penalties. The bill also gives the Utah Department of Health the authority to review the quality, nicotine content, packaging and labeling for e-cigarette liquids.
The governor said e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful and addictive substances.
"As marketing and sales of e-cigarettes increase, taxation and regulations similar to those imposed on traditional tobacco products should be enforced to protect public health," Herbert said.
