SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is poised to pass legislation designed to protect men and women who have been threatened by someone they’ve dated.
House Bill 50 has passed through both houses of Congress in Utah, and now it awaits Gov. Gary Herbert’s signature or veto.
Under the bill sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-District 23, courts could issue protective orders after evaluating situations where a person has a strong reason to feel a threat of violence from a current or former partner.
Current state law only allows protective orders to be taken out if the person seeking it is married to, lives with, or has children with the abuser.
Similar bills have been presented in the last decade without success.
