Utah Senate approves care‑provider abuse bill after heated debate over consent and vulnerability

The Utah Senate on the floor passed second substitute Senate Bill 81, a measure that creates a new misdemeanor offense for certain intimate sexual conduct between caregivers and individuals the bill describes as having a vulnerability. The Senate recorded 21 yeas, 7 nays and 1 absent; the bill will be sent to the House for consideration.

Supporters said the statute targets consensual intimate activity that occurs in care settings when the caregiver is not a licensed professional and therefore not subject to licensing sanctions. "If you are mentally disabled to the point in which…