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Wyoming2020Did Not Pass

HB0017

Parent Counsel and Family Preservation

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM

In one sentence

This act creates an office to provide legal help for parents in certain child welfare cases.

What it does

  • Creates the Office of Parent Counsel to give legal representation to parents in specific child welfare cases, including termination of parental rights actions and delinquency cases.
  • Establishes a program where attorneys work as parent counsel, representing parents in court actions involving their children's welfare.
  • Requires counties and state agencies to contribute money for this program.
  • Sets up a Family Preservation Advisory Board to advise on the quality of legal representation provided by the office.

Who it affects

  • Parents involved in child welfare cases
  • Attorneys working as parent counsel
  • Counties and state agencies contributing funds

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it has no current effect.
  • Details about the specific duties of the Family Preservation Advisory Board are limited.

Plain language

Terms to know

Parent Counsel Program
A program that provides legal representation to parents in specific court cases involving their children.
Family Preservation Advisory Board
An advisory board set up to ensure quality legal representation for parents and children in juvenile court cases.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 5, 10:12 PM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it creates a new centralized agency in Cheyenne rather than keeping services local, and he cites the $4 million cost as unaffordable.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:10:45 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes creating a new state agency for the program, suggesting regionalization instead due to concerns about the deficit and existing county savings.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:11:48 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill due to its high cost of $4 million to $5 million for additional attorneys and a new agency, citing struggles with state finances.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:12:27 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues that the bill is necessary to provide timely legal representation for parents, preventing mistakes in early hearings that could lead to permanent loss of children and high long-term costs.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:13:07 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

1 roll call

H Failed Introduction 25-34-1-0-02020-02-11 · House25 yes 34 no
Yes
25
No
34
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 25

Andrew W SchwartzH23CLIFFORDCatherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Clark D StithH48DAYTON-SELMANDan FurphyH14Dan R KirkbrideH04Dan ZwonitzerH43Eric BarlowR · H03James A RoscoeH22Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10John L FreemanH60Mark S KinnerH29Mike YinD · H16Patrick SweeneyH58Robert A ClausenH06Sandy NewsomeH24Sara BurlingameH44Shelly DuncanH05Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37William H Mr. HaleyH46

No 34

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Art WashutR · H36Bob NicholasR · H08Carl R LoucksH59Charles J GrayH57Clarence StyvarR · H12Clifford M JenningsH30Cyrus WesternH51Danny EyreH19David E NorthrupH50David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Evan J SimpsonH21Garry C PiiparinenH49Hans HuntH02Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANLandon BrownR · H09Richard TassH40Roy H EdwardsH53Scott M ClemH31Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas D CrankH18Thomas J WaltersH38Tim SalazarR · H34Timothy P HallinanH32Tyler E LindholmH01William D HendersonH41William H PownallH52

Excused 1

Michael D GreearH27

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed Introduction 25-34-1-0-0House
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO