Bill to expand funding for Childrens' Justice Center passes out of Senate

A bill proposed to expand the scope and funding of Utah's 15 Children's Justice Centers has passed out of a Senate committee, but not without concern expressed by the bill's own sponsor.

With the growing number of meth-related child abuse cases and domestic violence committed in front of children, justice center officials say they have had to expand services to help at-risk children with no funding increase.

SB15, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, proposes to officially expand the centers' abilities to offer treatment and other help for child victims, while adding an additional $200,000 to their budget.

Although law enforcement expressed support for the bill during a Senate committee hearing Wednesday, the Utah Eagle Forum's Gayle Ruzicka said she is concerned the measure would give state child welfare officials more power to take children away from parents who are involved in a domestic violence incident.

Assistant Utah Attorney General Craig Barlow said Utah law clearly defines child abuse and that expanding services for Children's Justice Centers would not change that.

After the testimony, Buttars said he did not want the bill to result in unnecessarily pulling children from homes. He said he will raise his concerns when the measure goes to the full Senate for debate.