Legislation aims to make parents more responsible for kids

Two bills currently working their way through the Senate are intended to hold parents more accountable for what happens to their children. One of the proposals would punish parents for their own behavior, and the other would punish them for what their children do.

HB26, sponsored by Rep. Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork, would make it a third-degree felony for parents to knowingly expose their children to any type of controlled substance or drug paraphernalia. If a child is harmed after coming in contact with a parents' drugs, the charge would be increased to a second-degree felony, and if the child dies, the parent would be charged with a first-degree felony.

The House unanimously approved Morley's bill last week and the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee will likely consider it next week.

The other bill, SB118, sponsored by Sen. Jon Greiner, R-Ogden, would make parents liable for up to $5,000 if a child in their legal custody causes any property damage while involved with a gang.

Greiner's bill was held up in the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committees last week over questions about circumstances in which a parent is not aware of the child's gang-related activities and therefore shouldn't be held responsible.

The bill was amended to grant courts the option to waive liability when appropriate, which apparently satisfied lawmakers' earlier concerns. It was quickly approved Friday afternoon and will now go to the full Senate for consideration.

E-MAIL: dservatius@desnews.com