SALT LAKE CITY — The bill's official name is SB170, but to grandmother Marilyn Rockwell, it will always be "Hannah's Bill."
Hannah Roach was 9 years old when she was killed in a car accident caused by a drowsy driver. The 18-year-old driver was ordered to pay a fine and do 100 hours of community service, but kept his license.
"He really got nothing," Rockwell said. "It was just a slap in the face (to us)."
But rather than dwell on her anger, Rockwell started e-mailing her legislators.
"I thought, 'I've gotta do something to put my energy toward something besides just being mad," she said Wednesday, at the Capitol.
Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, picked up her cause and sponsored the bill, SB170, allowing judges to recommend license revocation for individuals who cause deaths due to their reckless or drowsy driving, including texting, eating or being careless.
"(Previously) when someone was convicted, there was no way of notifying the driver license division that there was a problem," said Terryl Warner, victims advocate with the Cache County Attorney's Office.
Now, a judge can communicate with the driver license division and recommend revocation of up to a year, which is all Hannah's family wanted.
They weren't clamoring for jail time or harsh punishments, only a reminder that those who get behind the wheel must be responsible, said Hannah's mother, Melea Roach.
After all, it was just one poor decision, on Dec. 5, 2008, that changed so many lives.
Also killed that night were Tami and Curtis Andersen, who had taken Hannah, and their own two children, Kylee and Jaxon to Salt Lake City, so Kylee could dance at the Festival of Trees.
Kylee and Jaxon, now 6 and 3, as well as their grandparents, Lynn and Brenda Thurston, were also at the ceremonial signing Wednesday, with the governor.
While a piece of paper can never fill the families' losses, it's a chance to make a difference.
"It's something to honor Hannah," said Rockwell, who wore a shirt with a picture of Hannah and the words, "We miss you!"
Along with the bill, Hannah also has a tree, planted in her honor outside Lincoln Elementary, in Hyrum, and "Hannah's Corner," in the school's library, filled with animal books — her favorite.
Roach also keeps a small notebook on Hannah's grave for friends to write in.
"A bunch of her friends still come by," Roach said. "That feels good. It's just neat to know they still think about her."
"You don't realize … until they're gone how much impact they had on people," Roach continued. "We just heard such great things. Everybody just praised her from top to bottom. That makes you feel good. But we sure do miss her every day."
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