Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah House has unanimously approved a bill that makes it clear that an unconscious person can't consent to sex.
One lawmaker caused an uproar last week when he questioned during a hearing on the bill whether sex with an unconscious spouse should be considered rape.
Republican state Rep. Brian Greene later apologized and said he supports the bill but was worried about unintended consequences of the measure.
Current Utah law says sex with an unconscious person without consent is rape. Democratic Rep. Angela Romero says she sponsored the bill to remove the possibility that someone who is unconscious could be thought to have consented to sex.
House Members voted 75-0 on Tuesday afternoon to approve the measure.
It now advances to the Senate for consideration.
___
Online: HB 74: http://1.usa.gov/1zTVtRm
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.