Committee approves abuse definition bill

A person taking care of a child would no longer be presumed responsible for any abuse the child suffers, under a bill that passed a Senate committee Tuesday.

Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Sandy, the sponsor of HB89, told members of the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee that a section of Utah law violates an accused person's constitutional right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. The section states that when a child suffers abuse, the person in sole care of the child has a "presumption of responsibility."

Although the bill changes the language, it will not interfere with a judge's ability to find probable cause.

The bill passed by a 3-1 vote and will now move to the Senate floor for further debate.