Measure backed to toughen law against selling a child

A bill that would modify prohibitions in Utah's adoption law, including what expenses don't violate Utah's "sale of a child" restrictions, was forwarded unanimously for full legislative review Wednesday.

Under the bill, anyone who offers to sell or dispose of a child or to give or attempt to give money "or another thing of value" to in effect bribe someone to give up parental rights or to sell a child for financial gain could be charged with a third-degree felony.

State code currently addresses only those who accept a bribe or are induced financially to give up a child. If the law were to pass, both those who accept and those who offer inducements to give up a child or parental rights would have committed a felony.