ut-20261001-R671-308: R671-308. Offender Hearing Assistance
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Summary
The amendment clarifies the availability and scope of legal representation in Board of Pardons (Board) proceedings, including Board-appointed counsel for parole violation and evidentiary hearings and requirements governing privately retained attorneys at pardon, commutation, and restitution hearings. Limits who may address the Board during hearings, while allowing Board-approved participation by privately retained counsel in pardon, commutation, and restitution hearings.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
The rule, in full
1,296 words as published, October 01, 2026. View the original →
R671-308
1. Agency Information
Title catchline: Pardons (Board of), Administration Street address: 448 E Winchester St, #300 City, state: Murray, UT 84107
2. Contact Persons
Name: Phone: Email: Jennifer Yim 801-261-6464 jmyim@utah.gov Christopher Fournier 801-366-0216 cfournier@utah.gov Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above. 184 UTAH STATE BULLETIN, October 01, 2026, Vol. 2026, No. 19 NOTICES OF PROPOSED RULES
B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:
The amendment clarifies the availability and scope of legal representation in Board of Pardons (Board) proceedings, including Board-appointed counsel for parole violation and evidentiary hearings and requirements governing privately retained attorneys at pardon, commutation, and restitution hearings. Limits who may address the Board during hearings, while allowing Board-approved participation by privately retained counsel in pardon, commutation, and restitution hearings.
C. Summary of the new rule or change:
The change clarifies when the Board must provide an attorney or may allow other representation for offenders and parolees. It requires state-funded counsel for parole violation and evidentiary hearings, while allowing private attorneys to participate in certain other hearings with the Board's permission. 5. Fiscal Information Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:
A. State budget:
This amendment anticipates no impact on state budgets because an existing state contract with a set monthly rate covers the cost of Board-funded counsel.
B. Local governments:
This rule change is not anticipated to have any fiscal impact on local governments because local governments are not regulated by this rule.
C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):
This rule change does not have a fiscal impact on small businesses because small businesses are not regulated by this rule.
D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):
The proposed rule change does not have a fiscal impact on non-small businesses because non-small businesses are not regulated by this rule. E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency): This amendment anticipates no fiscal impact on persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state or local government entities because an existing state contract with a set monthly rate covers the cost of Board-funded counsel. No other persons are regulated by this rule.
F. Compliance costs for affected persons:
There are no compliance costs for affected persons because the costs associated with hearing assistance are covered by the Board. 6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable." UTAH STATE BULLETIN, October 01, 2026, Vol. 2026, No. 19 185 NOTICES OF PROPOSED RULES Fiscal Cost FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 FY2031 State Budget $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Governments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Small Businesses $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Non-Small Businesses $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Other Persons $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Fiscal Cost $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Fiscal Benefits FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 FY2031 State Budget $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Governments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Small Businesses $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Non-Small Businesses $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Other Persons $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Fiscal Benefits $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Net Fiscal Benefits $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval The Board Administrator of the Board of Pardons and Parole, Jennifer Yim, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis. 8. Family Impact Information
A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and fo☒mation:
9. Citation Information Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement: Section 77-27-5 Section 77-27-7.1 Section 77-27-9 Section 77-27-11 Section 77-27-29 11. Public Notice Information The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.
A. Comments will be accepted until: 11/02/2026
B. A public hearing (optional) will be held (The public may request a hearing by submitting a written request to the agency, as outlined in Section 63G-3-302 and Rule R15-1.): Date: Time: Place (physical address or URL): 10/07/2026 4:00 PM 448 E Winchester St Suite 300 Murray, UT 12. Effective Date Information This rule change MAY become effective on: 11/09/2026 (NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date) 13. Agency Authorization Information Agency head or Blake Hills, Chair Date: 08/18/2026 designee and title: 186 UTAH STATE BULLETIN, October 01, 2026, Vol. 2026, No. 19 NOTICES OF PROPOSED RULES R671. Pardons (Board of),Administration. R671-308. Offender HearingAssistance. R671-308-1. Offender HearingAssistance. Pursuant to Utah Code Section 77-27-7.1, if the Board in its discretion determines that an offender is unable to meaningfully participate in a Board hearing or other Board proceeding, the Board may appoint legal counsel or a lay representative to assist the offender. The Board shall determine the scope of the representation based on a review of the totality of the circumstances.[Offenders who are deemed by a hearing official to be unable to effectively represent themselves at a hearing may be allowed to have any assistance the Board determines is necessary to conduct an orderly hearing. This may include a Board-appointed representative.] R671-308-2. Offender Legal Counsel -- Parole Violation[Revocation] Hearings. (1) At a parole violation and an evidentiary hearing, the[The] Board shall provide[may appoint or assign] an attorney to represent parolees[offenders at parole violation hearings, including evidentiary hearings], at [S]state expense.[, unless the offender is the subject of a new criminal conviction for which an initial or original hearing is scheduled.] (2) [An offender]A parolee may choose instead to be represented by their own attorney at the parolee's own expense, or represent themselves, during parole [revocation ]violation [hearings]or evidentiary hearing[ at the offender's own expense]. (3) If an offender has been convicted of a new criminal offense that has resulted in Board jurisdiction, a parole violation/original hearing will be scheduled, and the offender is not entitled to representation at the parole violation/original hearing. (4[3]) Any attorney [appearing or ]representing a parolee[an offender] in parole [revocation]violation or evidentiary hearing[s] shall be admitted and licensed to practice law within Utah. Any attorney not appointed by the Board to represent[ing an offender] parolee [in a parole revocation hearing ]shall give written notice of their representation to the Board before the hearing. R671-308-3. Offender Legal Counsel -- Other Hearings. (1) Except[inparolerevocationproceedings]assetforthinthisrule,anoffenderorpetitionerhasnoright,requirement,orentitlement to legal representation or appointed counsel before the Board or during or in connection with any Board hearing, review, or decision.[ (2)] No attorney or other person [appointed or employed]representing [by ]an offender to assist in any matter or hearing before the Boardmaytestify, speak,or otherwise addresstheBoard duringa hearingexceptasprovided inthisrule.[ Only the offender,a personappointed by the Board to assist an offender pursuant to this rule, or a victim may present testimony or comment during a hearing.] (2[3]) If an attorney is privately retained to represent a pardon or commutation petitioner[ appoints or employs an attorney at their own expense, to appear or represent the petitioner before the Board], the Board may allow the attorney to participate at the pardon or commutation hearing. (3) If an attorney is privately retained to represent an offender at a restitution hearing, the Board may allow the attorney to participate. KEY: parole, inmates Date of Last Change: 2026[November 9, 2025] Notice of Continuation: July 2, 2026 Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 77-27-5; 77-27-9; 77-27-11; 77-27-29; 77-27-7.1 NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TYPE OF FILING: Amendment Filing ID: 58183
Rulemaking docket
We haven’t pulled this rulemaking’s full docket yet. View docket R671-308 on Regulations.gov →
Documents
- Full text (state register) · October 01, 2026
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