A “free-range kids” bill won final approval Wednesday to clarify that it is not a crime for parents to allow mature children with good judgment to do such things by themselves as walk to school, play outside or stay in a car while parents are away.

The House voted 66-0 to pass SB65 to allow that. The Senate earlier passed it 25-0. It now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert for his possible signature.

The bill by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, redefines neglect in state law to allow such unsupervised activities — but says that children must be mature enough to handle them without hurting themselves.

“This is to prevent in Utah a problem that has happened in too many other states … where parents have been prosecuted, gotten in trouble for doing nothing more than allowing a child to play outside or go to the park,” said Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, the House sponsor of the bill. “It hasn’t happened in this state, and this bill seeks to ensure it never will.”

Daw said it strikes a proper balance so that it will not interfere with protecting children who are truly abused or neglected.