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Senate approves neglect-definition change after debate over clergy reporting language
Summary
The Utah Senate passed SB 65, narrowing the criminal neglect definition to exclude ordinary parental supervision activities while clarifying that clergy reporting duties remain except for confessional communications; roll call was 25–0 with four senators absent.
The Utah Senate on the floor approved Senate Bill 65, a measure that narrows the state's criminal definition of child neglect to exclude commonplace parental supervision decisions such as allowing children to play at parks or walk to school. The bill passed after senators sought clarification that the bill did not broadly roll back clergy's obligations to report abuse.
Sponsor remarks and bill purpose Senator Philmor (as transcribed), the bill's sponsor, said the measure removes from the definition of neglect "simple things like letting your kids walk to school" so parents are not arrested for…
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