UT HB0495

Requires sentencing courts to advise defendants sentenced to death of their right to a direct appeal and appoint appellate counsel within 30 days after the Supreme Court affirms a conviction and death sentence

Modifies the automatic review process for death sentences by the Utah Supreme Court, requiring review within 120 days when a defendant waives or fails to file an appeal, and establishes that capital felony appeals have priority over all other cases

Revises procedures for determining intellectual disability in capital cases, including appointment of a prescreening psychologist to assess defendants when prosecutors seek the death penalty, with defendants having an IQ of 75 or below triggering further examination

Clarifies competency-to-be-executed procedures, requiring petitions filed fewer than 21 days before a scheduled execution to include an affidavit from a licensed physician or psychologist, and establishing requirements for successive petitions alleging incompetency

Increases attorney fees for postconviction relief in death penalty cases from $125 to $250 per hour and raises the maximum from $60,000 to $120,000, with litigation expenses increased from $20,000 to $40,000