House OKs bill to clarify child-abuse protections

House members Thursday passed a bill that repeals language saying that the person with control of a child is presumed to be responsible should that child suffer abuse.

In sometimes emotional debate, HB89 passed 47-25 and goes to the Senate. Sponsor Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Sandy, had a similar bill a year ago that passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the governor.

Christensen said he would never do anything to endanger a child but that current law goes against the constitutional guarantee of innocent until proven guilty.

But Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, said the current law deals only with civil actions, not criminal, and is a tool state child welfare officials can use to get the adult who was alone with an injured child to talk about what may have happened.