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House approves law restricting certain registered offenders from approaching children under 14
Summary
The House passed HB161 to criminalize unpermitted approaches to children under 14 by individuals convicted of certain offenses and on the offender registry; the measure, amended in committee from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor, passed unanimously 72-0.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House unanimously approved House Bill 161 to prohibit certain individuals on the sex-offender registry from approaching children under age 14 without written permission from a parent or guardian.
Representative Richard Greenwood, sponsor of the bill, said the measure responds to incidents in which registrants approached children in camps and neighborhoods and that it closes a loophole identified by sheriffs and prosecutors. The bill requires written parental permission for a registrant to request that a child accompany them off premises; if the child is already inside a residence, oral permission suffices.
Greenwood said the penalty was amended in committee from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor after consultation with law enforcement and prosecutors. Supporters, including several criminal-justice commissions and victims’ groups identified on the tracking sheet he cited, backed the bill on public-safety grounds.
During floor debate representatives praised the bill as a necessary protection for children; questions focused on age cutoffs and scope. Representative Sumption described a case that motivated his support and urged passage. The House approved HB161 72-0 and it will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
The change creates a new contact restriction tied to registry status and conviction history and adds enforcement provisions and penalties as described in the amended text.
