Utah House panel OKs bill that would make adults with mental disabilities minors in sexual exploitation cases

SALT LAKE CITY — The House Health and Human Services committee unanimously passed a bill Monday that would classify individuals with mental disabilities as minors if victims of sexual exploitation.

"This protects our vulnerable people," said Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, the bill's sponsor.

Under SB106, any individual, including those with mental disabilities, who cannot consent for themselves would be classified as a minor in a sexual exploitation case. The sentence for sexual exploitation, or pornographic representation, of a vulnerable adult would be a third-degree felony.

Kris Fawson of the Utah Statewide Independent Living Council, a nonprofit advocacy program, testified in support of the bill: "Anything we can do to prevent vulnerable adults we want to do, and I really think this does strengthen this."

— Amanda Verzello