This bill:

• defines and modifies terms related to capital felony cases;
• clarifies the statutory provisions regarding a sentencing proceeding in a capital felony case;
• requires the sentencing court to advise a defendant in a capital felony case of the right to a direct appeal and of the statutory provisions for postconviction relief;
• requires the sentencing court to appoint appellate counsel for a defendant who is sentenced to death;
• modifies the automatic review process by the Utah Supreme Court in a capital felony case in which the defendant is sentenced to death;
• addresses the priority of capital felony cases;
• addresses the extension of a report on a defendant's competency to stand trial;
• allows for the appointment of a psychologist to determine if a defendant is intellectually disabled when a prosecutor intends to seek a sentence of death;
• modifies statutory provisions regarding the pretrial process for determining whether an individual is intellectually disabled and not subject to a sentence of death;
• allows for an appeal of an order determining whether a defendant is intellectually disabled and not subject to a sentence of death;
• clarifies statutes regarding the execution of a sentence of death;
• modifies the requirements for a stay or suspension of a sentence of death and for an order of execution;
• modifies statutory provisions regarding a notification of pregnancy or incompetency of an inmate who is sentenced to death;
• addresses a petition for an inquiry on whether a defendant is competent to be executed, including the requirements for a successive petition;
• amends the examination process for a petition to determine whether an inmate is competent to be executed;
• addresses the procedures when there is a finding of competency or incompetency for an inmate sentenced to death;
• amends the subject matter jurisdiction of the Utah Supreme Court and the district court with regard to a capital felony case;
• provides that the Utah Supreme Court, after a direct appeal, appoint defense counsel to represent an individual sentenced to death on a petition for postconviction relief;
• requires the Utah Supreme Court to maintain a list of qualified defense counsel for purposes of appointing defense counsel for an individual sentenced to death on a petition for postconviction relief;
• increases the amount of attorney fees and litigation expenses that a court may authorize for a petition for postconviction relief in a death penalty case;
• repeals a statute pertaining to capital cases; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.