Infant at Work Amendments

8
63A-17-806
63I-1-263
63I-2-263
0
Infant at Work Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher
House Sponsor: Karen M. Peterson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill makes permanent the Infant at Work Program and expands the program to other
executive branch agencies.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
makes permanent the Infant at Work Program (program) available for Department of
Health and Human Services (department) employees and removes obsolete pilot-related
references;
repeals the June 30, 2026 sunset date for the program;
authorizes an executive branch agency to opt-in to the program by submitting written
notice from the agency head to the Division of Human Resource Management (division);
makes an agency's participation in the program subject to division approval;
authorizes the division to withdraw or revoke an agency's approval if the agency's
participation is detrimental to the program's administration or the agency's work
environment;
requires an agency that participates in the program to:
adopt a written participation policy; and
determine whether an employee of the agency may participate in the program based on
workplace considerations;
authorizes the division to adopt rules to administer the program;
adds a July 1, 2029 repeal date, subject to review by a legislative interim committee; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63A-17-806
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 494
63I-1-263
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 391, 512
63I-2-263
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 182, 273 and 277
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
63A-17-806
is amended to read:
63A-17-806
. Definitions -- Infant at Work Program -- Administration.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Agency head" means the individual who serves as the chief executive officer or
chief administrative officer of an executive branch agency.
(b)
"Eligible employee" means an employee who has been employed by
the Department
of Health and Human Services
a participating agency
for a minimum of:
(i)
12 consecutive months; and
(ii)
1,250 hours, excluding paid time off during the 12-month period immediately
preceding the day on which the employee applies for participation in the program.
(c)
"Executive branch agency" means any department, agency, office, or other
administrative unit of the state executive branch with authority to employ personnel.
(b)
(d)
"Infant" means a baby that is at least six weeks
of age
old
and no more than six
months
of age
old
.
(c)
(e)
"Parent" means:
(i)
a biological or adoptive parent of an infant; or
(ii)
an individual who has an infant placed in the individual's foster care by the
Division of Child and Family Services.
(f)
"Participating agency" means an executive branch agency that participates in the
program.
(d)
(g)
"Program" means the Infant at Work
Pilot
Program established in this section.
(2)
There is created the Infant at Work
Pilot
Program for eligible employees.
(3)
The Department of Health and Human Services is a participating agency under this
section.
(4)
(a)
An executive branch agency may elect to participate in the program by submitting
written notice to the division by the agency head.
(b)
An executive branch agency's participation in the program under Subsection
(4)(a)
is
subject to:
(i)
approval by the division; and
(ii)
compliance with this section and rules made by the division under Subsection
(11
).
(3)
(5)
The program shall:
(a)
allow an eligible employee to bring the eligible employee's infant to work
subject to
the provisions of
in accordance with
this section;
and
(b)
be administered by the division
; and
.
(c)
be implemented for a minimum of one year.
(4)
(6)
The division shall establish an application process for
eligible employees of the
Department of Health and Human Services
an eligible employee of a participating
agency
to apply to the program that includes:
(a)
a process for evaluating whether an eligible employee's work environment is
appropriate for an infant;
(b)
(a)
guidelines for infant health and safety; and
(c)
(b)
guidelines regarding an eligible employee's initial and ongoing participation in
the program.
(7)
(a)
A participating agency shall determine whether an eligible employee who applies
to the program under Subsection
(6)
may participate in the program based on:
(i)
the eligible employee's work environment; and
(ii)
the participating agency's operational needs.
(5)
(b)
If
the division approves the
a participating agency approves an
eligible
employee for participation in the program, the eligible employee shall have the sole
responsibility for the care and safety of the infant at the workplace.
(6)
(8)
The division may not require
the Department of Health and Human Services
a
participating agency
to designate or set aside space for an eligible employee's infant
other than the eligible employee's existing work space.
(9)
The division may withdraw or revoke a participating agency's approval to participate in
the program if the division determines that the participating agency:
(a)
is not in compliance with this section or rules made by the division under Subsection
(11)
; or
(b)
participates in a manner that is detrimental to the effective administration of the
program.
(10)
(a)
A participating agency shall, in consultation with the division, adopt a written
policy consistent with this section that provides guidance to eligible employees who
seek to participate in the program.
(b)
A policy adopted under Subsection
(10)(a)
shall:
(i)
be approved by the division;
(ii)
incorporate the application process established by the division under Subsection
(6)
;
(iii)
describe the criteria the participating agency will use in making an approval
determination under Subsection
(7)
;
(iv)
provide for revocation of an eligible employee's approval if participation in the
program becomes detrimental to the work environment or business operations;
(v)
provide that an eligible employee may request temporary telework or remote
work in connection with participation in the program, subject to the approval and
operational needs of the participating agency; and
(vi)
establish general participation requirements with which an employee who brings
an infant to the workplace, and any alternate care provider, shall comply.
including requirements relating to:
(A)
infant health and safety; and
(B)
an eligible employee's initial and ongoing participating in the program.
(11)
In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
division may make rules necessary to administer the program.
(7)
The division, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall
make rules that the department determines necessary to establish the program in
accordance with
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
.
Section 2. Section
63I-1-263
is amended to read:
63I-1-263
. Repeal dates: Titles 63A to 63O.
(1)
Section 63A-17-806, Definitions -- Infant at Work Program -- Administration, is
repealed July 1, 2029.
(2)
Title 63C, Chapter 4a, Constitutional and Federalism Defense Act, is repealed July 1,
2028.
(2)
(3)
Title 63C, Chapter 18, Behavioral Health Crisis Response Committee, is repealed
December 31, 2026.
(3)
(4)
Title 63C, Chapter 25, State Finance Review Commission, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(4)
(5)
Title 63C, Chapter 27, Cybersecurity Commission, is repealed July 1, 2032.
(5)
(6)
Title 63C, Chapter 28, Ethnic Studies Commission, is repealed July 1, 2026.
(6)
(7)
Title 63C, Chapter 31, State Employee Benefits Advisory Commission, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
(7)
(8)
Section
63G-6a-805
, Purchase from community rehabilitation programs, is repealed
July 1, 2026.
(8)
(9)
Title 63G, Chapter 21, Agreements to Provide State Services, is repealed July 1,
2028.
(9)
(10)
Title 63H, Chapter 4, Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority, is repealed July
1, 2029.
(10)
(11)
Subsection
63J-1-602.2(16)
, related to the Communication Habits to reduce
Adolescent Threats (CHAT) Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(11)
(12)
Subsection
63J-1-602.2(26)
, regarding the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(12)
(13)
Section
63L-11-204
, Canyon resource management plan, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(13)
(14)
Title 63L, Chapter 11, Part 4, Resource Development Coordinating Committee,
is repealed July 1, 2027.
(14)
(15)
Title 63M, Chapter 7, Part 7, Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(15)
(16)
Section
63M-7-902
, Creation -- Membership -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Expenses,
is repealed July 1, 2029.
(16)
(17)
Title 63M, Chapter 11, Utah Commission on Aging, is repealed July 1, 2026.
(17)
(18)
Title 63N, Chapter 2, Part 2, Enterprise Zone Act, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(18)
(19)
Subsection
63N-2-511(1)(b)
, regarding the Board of Tourism Development, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(19)
(20)
Section
63N-2-512
, Hotel Impact Mitigation Fund, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(20)
(21)
Title 63N, Chapter 3, Part 9, Strategic Innovation Grant Pilot Program, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(21)
(22)
Title 63N, Chapter 3, Part 11, Manufacturing Modernization Grant Program, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(22)
(23)
Title 63N, Chapter 4, Part 4, Rural Employment Expansion Program, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
(23)
(24)
Section
63N-4-804
, Rural Opportunity Advisory Committee, is repealed July 1,
2027.
(24)
(25)
Subsection
63N-4-805(5)(b)
, regarding the Rural Employment Expansion
Program, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(25)
(26)
Subsection
63N-7-101(1)
, regarding the Board of Tourism Development, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(26)
(27)
Subsection
63N-7-102(3)(c)
, regarding a requirement for the Utah Office of
Tourism to receive approval from the Board of Tourism Development, is repealed July
1, 2030.
(27)
(28)
Title 63N, Chapter 7, Part 2, Board of Tourism Development, is repealed July 1,
2030.
Section 3. Section
63I-2-263
is amended to read:
63I-2-263
. Repeal dates: Titles 63A through 63O.
(1)
Title 63A, Chapter 2, Part 5, Educational Interpretation and Translation Services
Procurement Advisory Council is repealed July 1, 2025.
(2)
(1)
Section
63A-5b-807
, Eminent domain of unincorporated city owned land, is
repealed January 1, 2027.
(3)
Section
63A-17-806
, Definitions -- Infant at Work Pilot Program -- Administration --
Report, is repealed June 30, 2026.
(4)
Section
63C-1-103
, Appointment and terms of boards, committees, councils, and
commissions transitioning on October 1, 2024, or December 31, 2024, is repealed July
1, 2025.
(5)
Section
63C-1-104
, Appointment and terms of boards transitioning on October 1, 2024,
is repealed January 1, 2025.
(6)
Subsection 63G-6a-802(1)(e), regarding a procurement for a presidential debate, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(7)
Subsection 63G-6a-802(3)(b)(iii), regarding a procurement for a presidential debate, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(8)
(2)
Subsection
63H-7a-403(2)(b)
, regarding the charge to maintain the public safety
communications network, is repealed July 1, 2033.
(9)
(3)
Subsection
63J-1-602.2(30)
, regarding funding the Enterprise Zone Act, is repealed
December 31, 2026.
(10)
(4)
Subsection
63J-1-602.2(46)
, regarding appropriations to the State Tax
Commission for deferral reimbursements, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(11)
Section
63M-7-221
, Expungement working group, is repealed April 30, 2025.
(12)
(5)
Title 63N, Chapter 2, Part 2, Enterprise Zone Act, is repealed December 31, 2026.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
July 1, 2026
.
2-23-26 4:33 PM