[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6374002,"mediaKeyId","2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be","parentId",2145252,"title","Senate committee advances bill defining child torture as first-degree felony with 10-year minimum","audioSeconds",3444,"startMs",402000,"endMs",3846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be&start=402&end=3846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be/thumbnail_402000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374002/Utah/Senate-committee-advances-bill-defining-child-torture-as-first-degree-felony-with-10-year-minimum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374002-b1057923c594223e2c65af56f9428819/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447912&Signature=iKIPrTLk~zKLfNKtUonCN0UuK6eaDCnMkAIBBHvwfzNBUzpzfGLwZdKoiuvYJNva12bWGsQS2zKaPczhemYFtuT~958Re-zd--LkE6TVEiLeB7ruPF6dePgbonTZnKu4iT72gB~oDyZZwYjjFEyGWpKxpIjMXqXeFUlquuvPigqLytNURV6BKsKjuT1KxoSaENgoytgx2GZCskBqGoADC14KlOzDz5sfmGK3G8FsZH6B4ICN~s5n7npiA1f6NE9qkAs7pGWhwEXr58tvvqlDXqDAWRhJmBN9BpDeQ42MlCe0ywOC8mtJCSj6UCX6AAITBPMboxKp5VYw7fFoo1nz7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 24, the Child Abuse and Torture Amendments, was advanced out of the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee on a unanimous 4–0 vote after roughly an hour of testimony and questions.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Don Ibsen, introduced the measure and asked prosecutors and medical experts to describe the need for a separate criminal category. Eric Clark, Washington County attorney, said the measure would \"define child torture, and make that a first-degree felony\" and add a statutory definition of psychological injury. Dr. Antoinette Lasky, a child abuse pediatrician speaking for the Utah Children's Justice Centers, told the committee she and colleagues had evaluated cases of “severe torture” that included confinement, malnutrition, burning, electrocution and prolonged psychological abuse. \"Survivors of child torture will have decades, if not their whole life, to work through the consequences of what happened to them,\" Lasky said.

Why it matters: Supporters said current statutes do not adequately address prolonged, intentionally cruel abuse when the child survives; they argued a separate offense and a mandatory minimum will better protect victims and give them time to recover before potential parole processes begin. \"Giving a 10-year minimum mandatory gives them that runway into their healing process before they're even having to deal with any of those things,\" Clark said.

Opponents, including Mark Moffett of the Defense Lawyers Association and Steve Burton of the Defense Attorney Association, urged caution. Moffett said similar conduct already is prosecuted aggressively under aggravated child abuse statutes and argued the bill’s phrases — \"exceptionally cruel,\" \"exceptionally depraved,\" and \"extreme physical or psychological pain\" — are undefined and could give prosecutors excessive charging discretion. \"These are standards without standards,\" Moffett said. Burton called mandatory minimums \"problematic,\" saying they remove judicial discretion and risk disproportionate outcomes.

Prosecutors and victim advocates answered those concerns by citing multidisciplinary investigation practices and existing examples of long sentences in severe cases. Brett Robinson, with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, pointed to other Utah statutes with mandatory minimums for the most serious crimes and said the proposal fits that pattern. Tom Ross, executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, testified the commission and the Victim Services Commission support the bill.

Committee deliberations: Committee members pressed witnesses on two recurring points: (1) whether existing statutes already allow lengthy incarceration and (2) whether the bill’s undefined aggravating-language could be grounded in case law or better-defined statutory phrasing. The chair asked prosecutors to provide case-law examples and for the attorney general’s appellate team to supply the precedents that informed the bill’s language. Senator Ibsen and witnesses said the phraseology was adapted from language used in aggravated murder case law and pledged to provide supporting citations to the committee.

Vote and next steps: A motion to favorably recommend SB 24 passed unanimously, 4–0, with the committee recording a caveat that the sponsor would continue working with stakeholders and committee members on possible floor amendments. The committee did not adopt statutory language changes at the hearing; senators said they expect additional drafting and data requests (including sentencing data) before the bill reaches the floor.

Ending note: Several witnesses emphasized the small number of cases but the high severity and lasting harm to victims; others warned against unintended prosecutorial overreach. The committee left the measure for continued refinement on the Senate floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee - January 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 24, the Child Abuse and Torture Amendments, was advanced out of the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee on a unanimous 4–0 vote after roughly an hour of testimony and questions.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373990,"Senate panel debates criminalization of sexual activity between care providers and patients; disability advocates urge changes",1238,4706000,5944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be&start=4706&end=5944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be/thumbnail_4706000.jpg","/articles/6373990/Utah/Senate-panel-debates-criminalization-of-sexual-activity-between-care-providers-and-patients-disability-advocates-urge-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373990-10a98ec4a195f11abd0f1e2c65fad713/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447912&Signature=leAccPGfGTDzrGvtnF4p-8BfqUNfvgmMELPVxGkBapiKwEt0AnryaK9KE0ULwyjwXWNkzi0k61AxTy1cKAwxtE615bSc72MV5aJNyVzP-mJru5Qillixs3Fev2BjoCeAjEeLookLIHwkHxksLbBvXhuZwPjMg97iDznQHivdy7sOiROuv2q1XdIiGkiJ96-hZhhUvP1zQKXdbbRY2W1lqb9isZp3w-GETQmzYiZ-PZYjw80TMo19tekwGQiv5iuxDdrzcjGL5b1H1qvUTcr1hpSpa2WhQaXDnjE2VAh7qhYyTB8p2xqd2m3lvLHvFnLyqtUjH5~p6MTERPy3kW9IoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 81, the Care Provider Abuse Modifications, drew extended committee discussion and stakeholder testimony about how to balance protections for vulnerable patients with the rights of adults to engage in consensual relationships.

Sponsor Senator Plumb said the bill aims to close a statutory gap: license-based professional sanctions can address relationships involving licensed clinicians, but nonlicensed employees (for example, kitchen staff, custodial employees or health-unit coordinators) were not covered by license-disciplinary systems. \"This is a situation that should not be happening, consent or not, in a care type of setting,\" Plumb said, and she described casework that prompted the bill.

Concern from disability advocates: Danica Baird of the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Sexual Violence Policy Alliance voiced support while the Disability Law Center cautioned that, as written, the bill could criminalize consensual activity by people with disabilities that would not be criminal if performed by people without disabilities. \"If I engage in consensual activity with the person giving me that [infusion], that person is not committing a crime. However ... if my colleague Andrew Riggle, who has a disability, did the same thing, that person would be committing a crime just by the very nature of the fact that Andrew has a disability,\" said Nate Krippas of the Disability Law Center.

Legal and prosecutorial stakeholders: The Statewide Association of Prosecutors (SWAP) said it had worked with the sponsor and supports the bill’s goals; Mark Moffett of the Defense Lawyers Association and other defense representatives said Senator Plumb had been receptive to changes and that further negotiation was ongoing. Dan Strong of the Sentencing Commission praised the sponsor's engagement with stakeholders.

Statutory design choices: Committee members and witnesses debated whether the conduct should be a misdemeanor or felony, and whether the bill’s language properly defines \"vulnerability\" and the scope of covered care settings. Sponsor Plumb and stakeholders made multiple edits during the hearing: the committee adopted a first substitute and then Amendment 1 to the substitute; the amended substitute includes a coordination clause with the criminal-code recodification (House Bill 21).

Committee action and status: The committee did not vote the bill to the floor during the hearing; members temporarily recessed (\"sauntered\") to secure quorum and planned further meetings with defense counsel, disability advocates, victim-services groups and other stakeholders to refine statutory language. The sponsor committed to additional negotiations and drafting before the bill advances.

Ending: The discussion highlighted competing goals: remove exploitative relationships from care settings, ensure clarity for nonlicensed staff, and avoid criminalizing consensual relationships involving adults with disabilities. The committee paused to allow continued stakeholder negotiation.","Senate Bill 81 would make certain consensual sexual or romantic relationships between care providers and patients a class A misdemeanor when a vulnerability or power imbalance exists; the committee adopted an amended substitute but recessed for further stakeholder negotiation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373995,"Committee expands protections for police service animals to include other public‑safety animals",772,4368000,5140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be&start=4368&end=5140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be/thumbnail_4368000.jpg","/articles/6373995/Utah/Committee-expands-protections-for-police-service-animals-to-include-other-publicsafety-animals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373995-615f45b38f0812d5fb49cb2de3c9d4e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447912&Signature=h2IUvXHHXBpORlxkskdvuv2uIijZHJLcmw09wPc2zH2nhnDbAcPTpDWjr9CzQEeU5WeICTyI0mySR~IE5W8Dw3KzI89-WkL3BuTMpQ00gkNfCaBzxJf5-kT4PVEd8L3uOLLLbbimcqGFAyFowagYEuCgTaCutuvpw2oNyyKoAclqp2D1l7hJlUIurWnVIWcEgoEeS1~V4EW~RXzPaooyKsZ1gLmnA8C-d8oq0I82ol7oVRyhxx1h3b7csAWsUaR2CQmcY0D5zbG20aS3my-gSojdczxJx7nPLM9bt5deBpG46z-BZ6vbZECBW~J0ltw~EtL7UCbVx9GZdbl1j0xkTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee adopted a first substitute to Senate Bill 77 to expand criminal-protection language from police service dogs to ‘‘animals’’ used by public-safety organizations and to coordinate the language with a related House bill.

Sponsor Senator Plumb said the change originated from a sheriff’s deputy who noted rural officers commonly use horses and other animals in their work; the substitute therefore changes references that previously mentioned only canines to encompass other working animals and the bill’s scope to include firefighting and military public-safety functions.

Why it matters: The substitute clarifies that the enhanced penalties and protections that apply when a law-enforcement canine is injured or killed also apply to other animals used by public-safety organizations, removing an apparent gap in current statute.

Committee action and public input: Committee members adopted the first substitute and then voted to favorably recommend the amended bill by voice vote, 4–0. Testimony included support from public-safety stakeholders and no recorded opposition.

Ending: The measure was advanced with the committee noting coordination with House Bill 21 and confirming stakeholder support.","First substitute to Senate Bill 77 broadened existing criminal protection language for police dogs to apply to animals used by public-safety agencies (police, fire, military and search-and-rescue). The committee adopted the substitute and recommended the bill 4–0.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373999,"Panel unanimously backs bill broadening protections for child-welfare workers",390,3868000,4258000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be&start=3868&end=4258","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145252-b87628f2bf31e47a5bd03dc10af511be/thumbnail_3868000.jpg","/articles/6373999/Utah/Panel-unanimously-backs-bill-broadening-protections-for-child-welfare-workers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373999-257e509988ead994333792b09f35f150/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447912&Signature=JEr6buAq-qnz--5IGFeOFqBRs1efYG7nL-T8LN15D1TxM-qV8ttA3RmIQ~D74mjXx7Km7mXCa7PPR25tH4A1BUdER9f1Q5e3ttd-vmy9IW4cZaqGQcqIitGHYB-9HTXSUWdDWkGj31inHTKAGJ24uVSBjqCh1aeRNmW3sCUOBMCSFi7SdLFkAnVfN~goJiHPz4a-T50nWK4NFRokuhDkcr8DOs-HpR7fbpZNL97k6TGSjzQnLyHhfnt2mFC9FL2cQ6wOPj6QWdBIdGZIZEbonwLUDRDO5AMLkcUQQgLd6TtcKj-jbBxN0dNWzwBDv3pIVYg4btTV7crXZTtJtLk2kA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 68, titled Child Welfare Worker Protection, was presented to the Senate Judiciary committee and favorably recommended to the full Senate on a 5–0 vote.

Sponsor Senator Vickers told the committee the bill is an update to 2019 legislation (SB 59) spurred by field reports that threats and assaults against child-welfare workers were not always being prosecuted under the existing statute. He described incidents in which DCFS staff and others received direct threats — including threats to burn employees' homes and to harm their children — and said prosecutors sometimes concluded the threat evidence did not meet the statutory threshold for prosecution.

Why it matters: The bill clarifies that threats or assaults against child-welfare workers while performing duties, or later threats against their family members tied to a worker's official actions, are prosecutable. Senator Vickers said the change is intended to make prosecutors more comfortable bringing charges in cases where staff face credible threats tied to their official duties.

Committee action: With no public opposition raised during the hearing, Senator McKell moved to favorably recommend the bill. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0. The committee recorded no fiscal note and no contested amendments at the hearing.

Ending: Supporters framed the bill as a public-safety and worker-protection measure for employees who carry out difficult child-welfare duties; senators expressed broad support.","Senate Bill 68 would extend criminal penalties for threats and assaults against child-welfare workers performing official duties. Sponsors said prosecutors had at times declined to use the existing statute; committee voted 5–0 to favorably recommend the bill.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill defining child torture as first-degree felony with 10-year minimum

Senate panel debates criminalization of sexual activity between care providers and patients; disability advocates urge changes

Committee expands protections for police service animals to include other public‑safety animals

Panel unanimously backs bill broadening protections for child-welfare workers