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4
63I-1-278
78B-22-805
1
Amendments to Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Pilot Program
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
House Sponsor: Stephanie Gricius
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Pilot Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
extends the sunset date of the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Pilot Program; and
prohibits an individual who has worked for the Division of Child and Family Services
from working for the pilot program for one year after the individual ends employment
with the division.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-1-278
Effective
05/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 26
78B-22-805
Effective
05/06/26
Repealed
12/31/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah
2023, Chapter 438
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
63I-1-278
is amended to read:
63I-1-278
Effective
05/06/26
. Repeal dates: Title 78A and Title 78B.
(1)
Subsection
78A-7-106(7)
, regarding the transfer of a criminal action involving a
domestic violence offense from the justice court to the district court, is repealed July 1,
2029.
(2)
Section
78B-3-421
, Arbitration agreements, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(3)
Section
78B-4-518
, Limitation on liability of employer for an employee convicted of an
offense, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(4)
Title
78B, Chapter 6, Part 2
, Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, is repealed July 1,
2026.
(5)
Section
78B-22-805
, Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Pilot Program, is
repealed December 31,
2026
2031
.
Section 2. Section
78B-22-805
is amended to read:
78B-22-805
Effective
05/06/26
Repealed
12/31/26
. Interdisciplinary Parental
Representation Pilot Program -- Employment restriction.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Parental representation liaison" means an individual who has a bachelor's or
graduate degree in social work, sociology, psychology, human services, or a closely
related field.
(b)
"Program" means the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Pilot Program created
in this section.
(2)
(a)
There is created within the commission the Interdisciplinary Parental
Representation Pilot Program.
(b)
The purpose of the program is to enhance the legal representation of a parent in a
child welfare case by including a parental representation liaison as a member of the
parent's interdisciplinary legal team.
(3)
(a)
A county may submit a proposal to the commission for a grant to develop a
parental representation liaison position to provide services to parents involved in a
child welfare case in the county.
(b)
A proposal described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall include details regarding:
(i)
how the county plans to use the grant award to fulfill the purpose described in
Subsection
(2)
;
(ii)
any plan to use funding sources in addition to a grant awarded under this section
for the proposal; and
(iii)
other information the commission determines necessary to evaluate the proposal
for a grant award under this section.
(c)
In evaluating a proposal for a grant award under this section, the commission shall
consider:
(i)
the extent to which the proposal will fulfill the purpose described in Subsection
(2)
;
(ii)
the cost of the proposal;
(iii)
the extent to which other funding sources identified in the proposal are likely to
benefit the proposal;
(iv)
the sustainability of the proposal;
(v)
the need for parental representation liaison engagement in child welfare cases in
the county that submitted the proposal; and
(vi)
whether the proposal will support improvements in indigent defense services in
accordance with the commission core principles described in Section
78B-22-404
.
(4)
Before October 1,
2023
2026
, the commission shall provide a written report to the
Health and Human Services Interim Committee regarding the program that includes
information on:
(a)
the number of grants awarded under the program; and
(b)
whether the program had any impact on child welfare case outcomes.
(5)
An individual who was employed by the Division of Child and Family Services may not
be employed by, contract with, or otherwise provide compensated services for the
program for a period of one year after the day on which the individual's employment
with the division ends.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-9-26 8:44 AM