SB 185

 Enrolled Copy  S.B. 185
1Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
                                      House Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ allows the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to:
9●   provide education and support for all parental representation attorneys;
10●   support indigent parental defense services through grants; and
11●   administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program;
12      ▸ removes the requirement for attorneys to be contracted; and
13      ▸ modifies the way the executive director shall prepare the budget.
14  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15      None
16  Other Special Clauses:
17      None
18  Utah Code Sections Affected:
19  AMENDS:
20      78B-22-802, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 228, 235
21
22  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 78B-22-802 is amended to read:
2478B-22-802 . Child Welfare Parental Representation Program -- Creation --
25  Duties -- Annual report -- Budget.
26  (1) There is created within the office the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
27  (2)[(a)] The office shall:
28[(i)] (a) administer and enforce the program in accordance with this part;
 S.B. 185  Enrolled Copy
29[(ii)] (b) manage the operation and budget of the program;
30[(iii)] (c) develop and provide educational and training programs for [contracted ]parental
31representation attorneys;
32(d) subject to appropriation from the Legislature, provide support for indigent parental
33defense services through the Indigent Defense Commission grant process;
34(e) administer the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program, established in
35Section 80-22-805; and
36[(iv)] (f) provide information and advice to assist a [contracted] parental representation
37attorney to comply with the attorney's professional, contractual, and ethical duties.
38[(b) In administering the program, the office shall contract with:]
39[(i) a person who is qualified to perform the program duties under this section; and]
40[(ii) an attorney, as an independent contractor, in accordance with Section
4178B-22-803.]
42   (3)(a) The executive director shall prepare a budget of:
43(i) the administrative expenses for the program; and
44(ii) the amount [estimated] expended in the prior year to fund[ needed] contracts, the
45Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program, and other parent representation
46program costs.
47(b) On or before October 1 of each year, the executive director shall report to the
48governor and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel regarding the preceding
49fiscal year on the operations, activities, and goals of the program.
50Section 2. Effective Date.
51   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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