Utah Lawmakers Pass Abuse Bill Following Paris Hilton’s Testimony

On February 8, 2021, Paris Hilton testified before Utah lawmakers. She spoke out against abuse in residential treatment facilities in Utah. Staff at such institutions are known to physically or sexually abuse children. In her testimony, Hilton advocated for a bill that would regulate Utah’s human services programs and provide more government oversight.

On March 2, 2021, the bill officially passed through the Utah State Legislature. The bill now goes to Governor Spencer Cox to be signed into law.

Paris Hilton Testifies Alongside Other Abuse Survivors

This cause is personal for Hilton. As a teenager, she was homed at a residential treatment facility in Utah called Provo Canyon School. During her 11-month stay, she was regularly abused and witnessed the abuse of other residents.

In February 2021, Hilton, alongside several other abuse survivors, testified in front of Utah’s Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee. She and the other survivors described the abuse they suffered and witnessed at facilities in Utah. They called on lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 127 (SB 127) to prevent future abuse in these facilities.

This bill directly impacts youth residential treatment facilities, like the one where Hilton was abused. Unfortunately, this bill will not address physical or sexual abuse in boarding schools. 

SB 127 Regulates Human Services Programs

SB 127 installs more government oversight for human services programs like residential treatment facilities for minors. 

Among other measures, the bill requires certain facilities to report the use of physical restraints and involuntary confinement. It also limits the use of sedatives or mechanical restraints, such as straitjackets, in these facilities. Additionally, the bill requires four facility inspections a year by the Utah Department of Human Services’ Office of Licensing. Currently, most facilities are inspected once a year. 

There are nearly 100 youth residential centers in the state of Utah. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, roughly 12,000 minors have attended these treatment facilities in the last five years. 

One of the bill’s sponsors — Senator Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork — told The Salt Lake Tribune, “There’s a lot of money in this industry. It’s a large, large industry. And I have become increasingly concerned that the appropriate amount of regulation has not caught up.”

SB 127 Passes Through Utah Legislature

Following the heartfelt testimonies of survivors on February 8, 2021, the Senate committee passed the bill unanimously. From there, the bill was passed unanimously by the full Senate later in the month. 

On March 2, 2021, the Utah House passed the bill 70–2. Governor Spencer Cox is now expected to sign the bill. 

Hilton responded to the news with an Instagram post, writing, “I am so proud to share that SB127, the bill I testified on behalf of has passed the Utah legislature which means it will become law!”

Hilton Continues To Advocate For Survivors

In her testimony, Hilton also called on President Joe Biden and U.S. Congress members to address the issue nationwide. Hilton plans to advocate for similar federal legislation.