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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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) -- Lawmakers are a considering a bill so a person charged with committing an act of domestic violence in front of a child could face multiple charges if more than one child was present.
Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, says the current law doesn't go far enough because if domestic violence occurs in front of multiple children, only one child is identified as a victim and qualifies for restitution, such as therapy.
Under House Bill 275, a separate third-degree felony would be charged for every child present and each one would qualify for restitution.
The bill passed unanimously out of a House committee Thursday. It will go to the House floor for more debate.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
