Paris Hilton in Utah for troubled teen bill

Paris Hilton, who has been very open about her past experience being abused mentally and physically at a Utah boarding school, has become an activist in this area. She testified in favor of a Utah bill that regulates treatment centers for troubled teens, and on Tuesday showed up for the ceremonial bill signing. The Associated Press has the story:

Paris Hilton, who has spoken out about the abuses she said she experienced at Provo Canyon School, center, was an advocate for the new law along with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. Activists and supporters gathered in the Capitol rotunda in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, for a ceremonial bill signing of SB127 that will bring more oversight to the state’s so-called troubled-teen industry. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

Paris Hilton back in Utah for signing of law regulating treatment centers for youth

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Paris Hilton returned to Salt Lake City Tuesday for a ceremonial bill signing for a law that regulates treatment centers for troubled teens in Utah.

The legislation for facilities that treat teens with behavioral and mental health issues gained final approval in the Legislature in early March, about a month after Hilton gave emotional testimony in support of the bill. Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill last month but held a ceremonial signing with Hilton on Tuesday.

The new law will require more government oversight of youth residential treatment centers and documentation for when they use restraints. It will also prohibit treatment centers from using sedation or mechanical restraints without prior authorization.

Hilton testified she was abused mentally and physically at a Utah boarding school, where she said staff members would beat her, force her to take unknown pills, watch her shower and send her to solitary confinement without clothes as punishment.

Paris Hilton, center, who has spoken out about the abuses she said she experienced at Provo Canyon School, center, was an advocate for the passage of SB127 along with fellow activists Jeff Netto, who spoke to Utah legislators and Caroline Lorson, with the advocacy group Breaking Code Silence. Activists and supporters gathered in the Capitol rotunda in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, for a ceremonial bill signing of SB127 that will bring more oversight to the state’s so-called troubled-teen industry. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

The socialite and reality TV star also spoke about the abuse in a documentary titled “This is Paris” that was released this fall.

Since the documentary was released, other celebrities have spoken out about their experiences at the school or others like it, including Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson and tattoo artist Kat Von D.

Paris Hilton in Utah for troubled teen bill

Paris Hilton back in Utah for signing of law regulating treatment centers for youth

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