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House amends stalking law to require parental involvement for minors and passes bill unanimously
Summary
Lawmakers approved an amendment to HB 34 that prevents a minor from initiating stalking complaints alone, requiring parent or guardian involvement; the amended bill passed the House 68–0 and will be sent to the Senate.
The Utah House on Wednesday adopted an amendment to House Bill 34 that requires a parent or guardian to be involved if a minor seeks to file a stalking complaint, and then passed the bill as amended by a unanimous recorded vote of 68–0.
Representative Eurer, who moved the amendment dated Jan. 25 at 12:05 p.m., said the change was intended so “a minor by himself cannot go swear out a complaint or start the sufficiency of course to this.” He framed the amendment as a safeguard to ensure a parent or guardian participates in the process and to avoid impulsive filings.
Representative Shortliffe and others discussed procedural concerns, and Representative Shurtleff waived summation for the sponsor. The floor record notes that the bill includes an existing $75 filing fee for an injunction and requires a hearing before a protective order can issue; those points were cited in debate as checks on impulsive filings by minors.
With the amendment adopted, the House opened final debate and recorded a vote: House Bill 34 received 68 yes votes and no opposing votes. The clerk announced the bill will be referred to the Senate for further action.
Supporters said the amendment balances protections for stalking victims with safeguards when the complainant is a minor; proponents also argued the hearing and filing fee provide due process and discourage frivolous filings. The House’s unanimous passage sends the amended stalking provisions to the Senate.
