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House approves repeal of juvenile-code 'presumption of responsibility' after lengthy debate
Summary
The Utah House voted 47-25 to repeal a juvenile-code provision commonly called the "presumption of responsibility," a move sponsors said restores the presumption of innocence while opponents warned it could reduce tools used to protect children. The bill now goes to the Senate.
The Utah House on Feb. 3 voted 47-25 to approve House Bill 89, a stand-alone repeal of a juvenile-code provision commonly described as a "presumption of responsibility" for caregivers who had "direct and exclusive care and control" of an abused child. Representative Gavr Christiansen, the sponsor, said the statute shifts the evidentiary burden onto parents.
"In our zeal to make sure that we detect every possible instance of abuse somehow along the way into our statute has crept this code provision entitled presumption of responsibility, which I would…
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