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H.B. 269

             1     

AMENDMENTS TO CONCURRENT

             2     
JURISDICTION IN ADOPTION CASES

             3     
2001 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Matt Throckmorton

             6      This act modifies the Juvenile Courts Act to give the juvenile court exclusive original
             7      jurisdiction in adoption proceedings.
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10          78-3a-104, as last amended by Chapter 149, Laws of Utah 2000
             11          78-3a-105, as last amended by Chapter 149, Laws of Utah 2000
             12          78-3a-119, as last amended by Chapter 329 and renumbered and amended by Chapter 365,
             13      Laws of Utah 1997
             14          78-30-7, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1997
             15      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             16          Section 1. Section 78-3a-104 is amended to read:
             17           78-3a-104. Jurisdiction of juvenile court -- Original -- Exclusive.
             18          (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the juvenile court has exclusive original
             19      jurisdiction in proceedings concerning:
             20          (a) a minor who has violated any federal, state, or local law or municipal ordinance or a
             21      person younger than 21 years of age who has violated any law or ordinance before becoming 18
             22      years of age, regardless of where the violation occurred, excluding traffic laws and ordinances;
             23          (b) a person 21 years of age or older who has failed or refused to comply with an order of
             24      the juvenile court to pay a fine or restitution, if the order was imposed prior to the person's 21st
             25      birthday; however, the continuing jurisdiction is limited to causing compliance with existing
             26      orders;
             27          (c) a minor who is an abused child, neglected child, or dependent child, as those terms are


             28      defined in Section 78-3a-103 ;
             29          (d) a protective order for a minor who is alleged to be an abused child or neglected child,
             30      except as provided in Section 78-3a-105 , and unless the petition is filed by a natural parent or
             31      stepparent of the minor against a natural parent or stepparent of the minor;
             32          (e) the determination of the custody of a minor or to appoint a guardian of the person or
             33      other guardian of a minor who comes within the court's jurisdiction under other provisions of this
             34      section;
             35          (f) the termination of the legal parent-child relationship in accordance with Part 4,
             36      Termination of Parental Rights Act, including termination of residual parental rights and duties;
             37          (g) the treatment or commitment of a mentally retarded minor;
             38          (h) a minor who is a habitual truant from school;
             39          (i) the judicial consent to the marriage of a minor under age 16 upon a determination of
             40      voluntariness or where otherwise required by law, employment, or enlistment of a minor when
             41      consent is required by law;
             42          (j) any parent or parents of a minor committed to a secure youth corrections facility, to
             43      order, at the discretion of the court and on the recommendation of a secure youth corrections
             44      facility, the parent or parents of a minor committed to a secure youth corrections facility for a
             45      custodial term, to undergo group rehabilitation therapy under the direction of a secure youth
             46      corrections facility therapist, who has supervision of that parent's or parents' minor, or any other
             47      therapist the court may direct, for a period directed by the court as recommended by a secure youth
             48      corrections facility;
             49          (k) a minor under Title 55, Chapter 12, Interstate Compact on Juveniles;
             50          (l) the treatment or commitment of a mentally ill child. The court may commit a child to
             51      the physical custody of a local mental health authority or to the legal custody of the Division of
             52      Mental Health in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Title 62A, Chapter 12, Part
             53      2A, Commitment of Persons Under Age 18 to Division of Mental Health. The court may not
             54      commit a child directly to the Utah State Hospital;
             55          (m) the commitment of a minor in accordance with Section 62A-8-501 ; [and]
             56          (n) de novo review of final agency actions resulting from an informal adjudicative
             57      proceeding as provided in Section 63-46b-15 [.]; and
             58          (o) adoptions conducted in accordance with the procedures described in Title 78, Chapter


             59      30, Adoption, when the juvenile court has previously entered an order terminating the rights of a
             60      parent and finds that adoption is in the best interest of the minor.
             61          (2) In addition to the provisions of Subsection (1)(a) the juvenile court has exclusive
             62      jurisdiction over any traffic offense committed by a minor under 16 years of age and concurrent
             63      jurisdiction over all other traffic offenses committed by a minor 16 years of age or older, except
             64      that the court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the following traffic offenses committed by
             65      a minor under 18 years of age:
             66          (a) Section 76-5-207 , automobile homicide;
             67          (b) Section 41-6-44 , operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
             68          (c) Section 41-6-45 , reckless driving;
             69          (d) Section 41-1a-1314 , unauthorized control over a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer
             70      for an extended period of time; and
             71          (e) Section 41-6-13.5 , fleeing a peace officer.
             72          (3) The court also has jurisdiction over traffic offenses that are part of a single criminal
             73      episode filed in a petition that contains an offense over which the court has jurisdiction.
             74          (4) The juvenile court has jurisdiction over questions of custody, support, and visitation
             75      certified to it by the district court pursuant to Section 78-3a-105 .
             76          (5) The juvenile court has jurisdiction over an ungovernable or runaway minor who is
             77      referred to it by the Division of Child and Family Services or by public or private agencies that
             78      contract with the division to provide services to that minor where, despite earnest and persistent
             79      efforts by the division or agency, the minor has demonstrated that he:
             80          (a) is beyond the control of his parent, guardian, lawful custodian, or school authorities
             81      to the extent that his behavior or condition endangers his own welfare or the welfare of others; or
             82          (b) has run away from home.
             83          (6) This section does not restrict the right of access to the juvenile court by private
             84      agencies or other persons.
             85          (7) The juvenile court has jurisdiction of all magistrate functions relative to cases arising
             86      under Section 78-3a-602 .
             87          Section 2. Section 78-3a-105 is amended to read:
             88           78-3a-105. Concurrent jurisdiction -- District court and juvenile court.
             89          (1) The district court or other court has concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile court as


             90      follows:
             91          (a) when a person who is 18 years of age or older and who is under the continuing
             92      jurisdiction of the juvenile court under Section 78-3a-118 violates any federal, state, or local law
             93      or municipal ordinance;
             94          [(b) in adoption proceedings, when the juvenile court has previously entered an order
             95      terminating the rights of a parent, and finds that adoption is in the best interest of the minor;
             96      adoption proceedings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures
             97      described in Title 78, Chapter 30, Adoption;]
             98          [(c)] (b) in establishing paternity and ordering testing for the purposes of establishing
             99      paternity, in accordance with Title 78, Chapter 45a, Uniform Act on Paternity, with regard to
             100      proceedings initiated under Part 3, Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Proceedings, or Part 4,
             101      Termination of Parental Rights Act; and
             102          [(d)] (c) in proceedings brought on behalf of a minor pursuant to Title 30, Chapter 6,
             103      Cohabitant Abuse Act, unless the petition is filed by a natural parent or stepparent of the minor
             104      against a natural parent or stepparent of the minor.
             105          (2) The juvenile court has jurisdiction over petitions to modify a minor's birth certificate
             106      if the court otherwise has jurisdiction over the minor.
             107          (3) (a) This section does not deprive the district court of jurisdiction to appoint a guardian
             108      for a minor, or to determine the support, custody, and visitation of a minor upon writ of habeas
             109      corpus or when the question of support, custody, and visitation is incidental to the determination
             110      of a cause in the district court.
             111          (b) However, if a petition involving the same minor is pending in the juvenile court or the
             112      juvenile court has previously acquired continuing jurisdiction over the same minor, the district
             113      court shall certify the question of support, custody, and visitation to the juvenile court for
             114      determination.
             115          (4) When a question is certified to the juvenile court under Subsection (3), the findings and
             116      order of the juvenile court judge are the order of the district court.
             117          (5) (a) Where a support, custody, or visitation award has been made by a district court in
             118      a divorce action or other proceeding, and the jurisdiction of the district court in the case is
             119      continuing, the juvenile court may acquire jurisdiction in a case involving the same minor if the
             120      minor is dependent, abused, neglected, or otherwise comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile


             121      court under Section 78-3a-104 .
             122          (b) The juvenile court may, by order, change the custody, support, and visitation rights
             123      previously ordered in the district court as necessary to implement the order of the juvenile court
             124      for the safety and welfare of the minor. The juvenile court order remains in effect so long as the
             125      jurisdiction of the juvenile court continues.
             126          (6) When a copy of the findings and order of the juvenile court has been filed with the
             127      district court, the findings and order of the juvenile court are binding on the parties to the divorce
             128      action as though entered in the district court.
             129          Section 3. Section 78-3a-119 is amended to read:
             130           78-3a-119. Period of operation of judgment, decree, or order -- Rights and
             131      responsibilities of agency or individual granted legal custody.
             132          (1) A judgment, order, or decree of the juvenile court does not operate after the minor
             133      becomes 21 years of age, except for:
             134          (a) orders of commitment to the Utah State Developmental Center or to the custody of the
             135      Division of Mental Health;
             136          (b) adoption orders under [Section 78-3a-105 ] Subsection 78-3a-104 (1)(o);
             137          (c) orders permanently terminating the rights of a parent, guardian, or custodian, and
             138      permanent orders of custody and guardianships; and
             139          (d) unless terminated by the court, orders to pay any fine or restitution.
             140          (2) (a) Except as provided in Part 3, Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Proceedings, an
             141      order vesting legal custody or guardianship of a minor in an individual, agency, or institution may
             142      be for an indeterminate period. A review hearing shall be held, however, upon the expiration of
             143      12 months, and, with regard to petitions filed by the Division of Child and Family Services, no less
             144      than once every six months thereafter. The individual, agency, or institution involved shall file
             145      the petition for that review hearing. The court may terminate the order, or after notice and hearing,
             146      continue the order if it finds continuation of the order necessary to safeguard the welfare of the
             147      minor or the public interest. The findings of the court and its reasons shall be entered with the
             148      continuation order or with the order denying continuation.
             149          (b) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to minors who are in the custody of the Division of
             150      Child and Family Services, and who are placed in foster care, a secure youth corrections facility,
             151      the Division of Mental Health, the Utah State Developmental Center, or any agency licensed for


             152      child placements and adoptions, in cases where all parental rights of the natural parents have been
             153      terminated by the court under Part 4, Termination of Parental Rights Act, and custody of the minor
             154      has been granted to the agency for adoption or other permanent placement.
             155          (3) (a) An agency granted legal custody may determine where and with whom the minor
             156      will live, provided that placement of the minor does not remove him from the state without court
             157      approval.
             158          (b) An individual granted legal custody shall personally exercise the rights and
             159      responsibilities involved in legal custody, unless otherwise authorized by the court.
             160          Section 4. Section 78-30-7 is amended to read:
             161           78-30-7. Jurisdiction of district and juvenile court -- Time for filing.
             162          (1) Adoption proceedings shall be commenced by filing a petition with the clerk of the
             163      district court in the district where the person adopting resides, or with the juvenile court as
             164      provided in [Section 78-3a-105 ] Subsection 78-3a-104 (1)(o). All orders, decrees, agreements, and
             165      notices in the proceedings shall be filed with the clerk of that court.
             166          (2) A petition for adoption shall be filed within 30 days of the date the adoptee is placed
             167      in the home of the petitioners for the purpose of adoption, unless the time for filing has been
             168      extended by the court, or unless the adoption is arranged by a licensed child placing agency in
             169      which case the agency may extend the filing time.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-31-01 2:21 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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