Three bills advocating for change to Utah clergy child abuse reporting requirements are making their way through the current legislative session.

The bills include HB212, HB115 and SB 72. HB212, sponsored by state representative Brian King, was introduced to the House on Jan. 17 as Clergy Child Abuse Reporting Requirements.

The bill is meant to clarify the current option clergy members already have to report abuse revealed to them in confidential meetings.

“HB212 will make explicit what the statute already is,” King said, “which establishes a priest-penitent privilege that says you can’t require or mandate priests or clergy to report child abuse when that information comes from the perpetrators.”

The bill says one may, if they feel like they need or want to, report abuse to law enforcement, King said.

HB212 is largely trying to make sure clergy know there is no legal prohibition on reporting abuse to law enforcement…