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Utah House unanimously passes child sex abuse education bill

Posted at 11:13 AM, Feb 27, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-27 14:59:57-05

SALT LAKE CITY -- A bill that would put sex abuse awareness and prevention training in Utah public schools passed unanimously in the House Thursday.

The bill caught some heat from critics, but received strong support from Elizabeth Smart, who endured sexual abuse after being kidnapped at the age of 14 in 2002.

The legislation is the brainchild of Representative Angela Romero, D-District 26.

“It’s definitely a sensitive topic,” Romero said. “When you look at abuse amongst children in Utah, child sex abuse is number 1. It’s 26 percent.”

Under the bill, schools can choose if they want to take part in the sex abuse education.