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Senate advances bill clarifying 'pattern of abuse' language after sponsor cites traumatic family case
Summary
Senator Weiler said a change to statute in SB57 will limit 'pattern of abuse or chronic neglect' to recurring conduct rather than single isolated incidents; the Senate voted to read the bill for a third time (27–0, 4 absent).
Senate Bill 57 (second substitute), a technical statutory clarification that 'a pattern of abuse or chronic neglect' requires more than a single incident, was presented and advanced on the Utah Senate floor.
Senator Todd Weiler, the bill's sponsor, described a case in which two small children were scalded in a bathtub after an accidental interruption of cold water. He said Department of Child and Family Services investigated appropriately but that the family then "was put through almost two years of a nightmare and were being accused of chronic neglect even though this was a single isolated incident." Weiler said the bill narrows the statutory definition so that the statute targets recurring or habitual conduct rather than isolated accidents.
The chamber voted by roll call; the clerk announced the motion to read the second substitute for a third time had "received 27 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 4 being absent," after which senators moved the bill forward for further consideration.
Supporters framed the amendment as corrective and noncontroversial; no formal opposition was recorded in the transcript. The bill will proceed to its next legislative step for final consideration.
