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First Substitute H.B. 36

Senator Margaret Dayton proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CHILD WELFARE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends background check and child placement provisions in the Utah Human
             10      Services Code and the Juvenile Court Act of 1996.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    provides that the requirement that a child in state custody may not be placed with a
             15      prospective foster or adoptive parent until the Department of Human Services
             16      conducts a comprehensive background check, does not prohibit the Division of
             17      Child and Family Services or a court placing the child with a noncustodial parent, or
             18      with a relative, pending further investigation of the appropriateness of the
             19      placement;
             20          .    provides exceptions to certain background check requirements if the exceptions are
             21      permitted by federal law or rule;
             22          .    modifies background check requirements for prospective foster or adoptive
             23      placements;
             24          .    clarifies the rulemaking authority of the Office of Licensing, within the Department
             25      of Human Services;


             26          .    provides that priority shall be given for placing a child with a noncustodial parent,
             27      relative, or friend, over placing the child in a shelter;
             28          .    modifies provisions relating to the placement and custody of a child who has been
             29      removed from the custody of the child's parents;
             30          .    provides that, in order to be considered a "willing relative or friend" for purposes of
             31      determining placement of a child following a shelter care hearing, the friend or
             32      relative must be willing to cooperate with the child's permanency goal;
             33          .    describes the limited background check or investigation that must be completed
             34      before a child in state custody is placed with a noncustodial parent or relative; and
             35          .     makes technical changes.
             36      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             37          None
             38      Other Special Clauses:
             39          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             40      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             41      AMENDS:
             42          62A-2-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 152
             43          62A-4a-202.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 169
             44          62A-4a-206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 306
             45          62A-4a-209, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 169
             46          62A-5-103.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 152
             47          78A-6-306, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             48          78A-6-307, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             49          78A-6-308, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             50          78A-6-318, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             51          78B-6-113, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             52          78B-6-131, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             53      ENACTS:
             54          78A-6-307.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55     
             56      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             57          Section 1. Section 62A-2-120 is amended to read:
             58           62A-2-120. Criminal background checks -- Direct access to children or
             59      vulnerable adults.
             60          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7), an applicant for an initial license or a
             61      license renewal under this chapter shall submit to the office the names and other identifying
             62      information, which may include fingerprints, of all persons associated with the licensee, as
             63      defined in Section 62A-2-101 , with direct access to children or vulnerable adults.
             64          (b) The Criminal Investigations and Technical Services Division of the Department of
             65      Public Safety, or the office as authorized under Section 53-10-108 , shall process the
             66      information described in Subsection (1)(a) to determine whether the individual has been
             67      convicted of any crime.
             68          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(d), if an individual has not continuously lived
             69      in Utah for the five years immediately preceding the day on which the information referred to
             70      in Subsection (1)(a) is submitted to the office, the individual shall submit fingerprints for a FBI
             71      national criminal history record check. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the FBI through
             72      the Criminal Investigations and Technical Services Division.
             73          (d) An individual is not required to comply with Subsection (1)(c) if:
             74          (i) the individual continuously lived in Utah for the five years immediately preceding
             75      the day on which the information described in Subsection (1)(a) is submitted to the office,
             76      except for time spent outside of the United States and its territories; and
             77          (ii) the background check of the individual is being conducted for a purpose other than
             78      a purpose described in Subsection (1)(f).
             79          (e) If an applicant described in Subsection (1)(a) spent time outside of the United
             80      States and its territories during the five years immediately preceding the day on which the
             81      information described in Subsection (1)(a) is submitted to the office, the office shall require the
             82      applicant to submit documentation establishing whether the applicant was convicted of a crime
             83      during the time that the applicant spent outside of the United States and its territories.
             84          (f) Notwithstanding [any other provision of this Subsection (1)] Subsections (1)(a)
             85      through (e), and except as provided in Subsection (1)(h), an applicant described in Subsection
             86      (1)(a) shall submit fingerprints for an FBI national criminal history records check, through the
             87      Criminal Investigations and Technical Services Division, if the background check of the


             88      applicant is being conducted for the purpose of:
             89          (i) licensing a prospective foster home; or
             90          (ii) approving a prospective adoptive placement of a child in state custody.
             91          (g) [In] Except as provided in Subsection (1)(h), in addition to the other requirements
             92      of this section, if the background check of an applicant described in Subsection (1)(a) is being
             93      conducted for the purpose of licensing a prospective foster home or approving a prospective
             94      adoptive placement of a child in state custody, the office shall:
             95          (i) check the child abuse and neglect registry in each state where each prospective
             96      foster parent or prospective adoptive parent resided in the five years immediately preceding the
             97      day on which the prospective foster parent or prospective adoptive parent applied to be a foster
             98      parent or adoptive parent, to determine whether the prospective foster parent or prospective
             99      adoptive parent is listed in the registry as having a substantiated or supported finding of child
             100      abuse or neglect; and
             101          (ii) check the child abuse and neglect registry in each state where each adult living in
             102      the home of the prospective foster parent or prospective adoptive parent described in
             103      Subsection (1)(g)(i) resided in the five years immediately preceding the day on which the
             104      prospective foster parent or prospective adoptive parent applied to be a foster parent or
             105      adoptive parent, to determine whether the adult is listed in the registry as having a substantiated
             106      or supported finding of child abuse or neglect.
             107          (h) The requirements under Subsections (1)(f) and (g) do not apply to the extent that:
             108          (i) federal law or rule permits otherwise; or
             109          (ii) the requirements would prohibit the Division of Child and Family Services or a
             110      court from placing a child with:
             111          (A) a noncustodial parent under Section 62A-4a-209 , 78A-6-307 , or 78A-6-307.5 ; or
             112          (B) a relative, other than a noncustodial parent, under Section 62A-4a-209 , 78A-6-307 ,
             113      or 78A-6-307.5 , pending completion of the background check described in Subsections (1)(f)
             114      and (g).
             115          [(h)] (i) The office shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
             116      Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement the provisions of this Subsection (1) relating to
             117      background checks.
             118          (2) The office shall approve a person for whom identifying information is submitted


             119      under Subsection (1) to have direct access to children or vulnerable adults in the licensee
             120      program if:
             121          (a) (i) the person is found to have no criminal history record; or
             122          (ii) (A) the only convictions in the person's criminal history record are misdemeanors
             123      or infractions not involving any of the offenses described in Subsection (3); and
             124          (B) the date of the last conviction under Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(A) is more than five years
             125      before the date of the search;
             126          (b) the person is not listed in the statewide database of the Division of Aging and Adult
             127      Services created by Section 62A-3-311.1 ;
             128          (c) juvenile court records do not show that a court made a substantiated finding, under
             129      Section [ 78-3a-320 ] 78A-6-323 , that the person committed a severe type of child abuse or
             130      neglect;
             131          (d) the person is not listed in the Licensing Information System of the Division of
             132      Child and Family Services created by Section 62A-4a-1006 ;
             133          (e) the person has not pled guilty or no contest to a pending charge for any:
             134          (i) felony;
             135          (ii) misdemeanor listed in Subsection (3); or
             136          (iii) infraction listed in Subsection (3); and
             137          (f) for a person described in Subsection (1)(g), the registry check described in
             138      Subsection (1)(g) does not indicate that the person is listed in a child abuse and neglect registry
             139      of another state as having a substantiated or supported finding of a severe type of child abuse or
             140      neglect as defined in Section 62A-4a-1002 .
             141          (3) Except as provided in Subsection (8), unless at least ten years have passed since the
             142      date of conviction, the office may not approve a person to have direct access to children or
             143      vulnerable adults in the licensee's human services program if that person has been convicted of
             144      an offense, whether a felony, misdemeanor, or infraction, that is:
             145          (a) identified as a sexual offense, domestic violence, lewdness, assault, or battery;
             146          (b) a violation of any pornography law, including sexual exploitation of a minor;
             147          (c) prostitution;
             148          (d) included in:
             149          (i) Title 76, Chapter 5, Offenses Against the Person;


             150          (ii) Title 76, Chapter 5a, Sexual Exploitation of Children; or
             151          (iii) Title 76, Chapter 7, Offenses Against the Family;
             152          (e) a violation of Section 76-6-103 , aggravated arson;
             153          (f) a violation of Section 76-6-203 , aggravated burglary;
             154          (g) a violation of Section 76-6-302 , aggravated robbery; or
             155          (h) a conviction for an offense committed outside of the state that, if committed in the
             156      state, would constitute a violation of an offense described in Subsections (3)(d) through (g).
             157          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (8), if a person for whom identifying
             158      information is submitted under Subsection (1) is not approved by the office under Subsection
             159      (2) or (3) to have direct access to children or vulnerable adults in the licensee program, the
             160      office shall conduct a comprehensive review of criminal and court records and related
             161      circumstances if the reason the approval is not granted is due solely to one or more of the
             162      following:
             163          (i) a conviction for:
             164          (A) any felony not listed in Subsection (3);
             165          (B) any misdemeanor or infraction, not listed in Subsection (3), within five years of the
             166      date of the search;
             167          (C) a protective order or ex parte protective order violation under Section 76-5-108 or
             168      a similar statute in another state; or
             169          (D) any felony, misdemeanor, or infraction listed in Subsection (3) if at least ten years
             170      have passed since the date of conviction;
             171          (ii) a plea of guilty or no contest to a pending:
             172          (A) felony;
             173          (B) misdemeanor listed in Subsection (3); or
             174          (C) infraction listed in Subsection (3);
             175          (iii) the person is listed in the statewide database of the Division of Aging and Adult
             176      Services created by Section 62A-3-311.1 ;
             177          (iv) juvenile court records show that a court made a substantiated finding, under
             178      Section [ 78-3a-320 ] 78A-6-323 , that the person committed a severe type of child abuse or
             179      neglect;
             180          (v) the person is listed in the Licensing Information System of the Division of Child


             181      and Family Services created by Section 62A-4a-1006 ; or
             182          (vi) the person is listed in a child abuse or neglect registry of another state as having a
             183      substantiated or supported finding of a severe type of child abuse or neglect as defined in
             184      Section 62A-4a-1002 .
             185          (b) The comprehensive review under Subsection (4)(a) shall include an examination of:
             186          (i) the date of the offense or incident;
             187          (ii) the nature and seriousness of the offense or incident;
             188          (iii) the circumstances under which the offense or incident occurred;
             189          (iv) the age of the perpetrator when the offense or incident occurred;
             190          (v) whether the offense or incident was an isolated or repeated incident;
             191          (vi) whether the offense or incident directly relates to abuse of a child or vulnerable
             192      adult, including:
             193          (A) actual or threatened, nonaccidental physical or mental harm;
             194          (B) sexual abuse;
             195          (C) sexual exploitation; and
             196          (D) negligent treatment;
             197          (vii) any evidence provided by the person of rehabilitation, counseling, or psychiatric
             198      treatment received, or additional academic or vocational schooling completed, by the person;
             199      and
             200          (viii) any other pertinent information.
             201          (c) At the conclusion of the comprehensive review under Subsection (4)(a), the office
             202      shall approve the person who is the subject of the review to have direct access to children or
             203      vulnerable adults, unless it finds that approval will likely create a risk of harm to a child or
             204      vulnerable adult.
             205          (d) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             206      office may make rules, consistent with this chapter, defining procedures for the comprehensive
             207      review described in this Subsection (4).
             208          (5) (a) For purposes of this Subsection (5), "directly supervised" means that the person
             209      being supervised is under the uninterrupted visual and auditory surveillance of the person doing
             210      the supervising.
             211          (b) A licensee may not permit any person to have direct access to a child or a


             212      vulnerable adult unless, subject to Subsection (5)(c), that person is:
             213          (i) associated with the licensee and:
             214          (A) approved by the office to have direct access to children or vulnerable adults under
             215      this section; or
             216          (B) (I) the office has not determined whether to approve that person to have direct
             217      access to children or vulnerable adults;
             218          (II) the information described in Subsection (1)(a), relating to that person, is submitted
             219      to the department; and
             220          (III) that person is directly supervised by a person associated with the licensee who is
             221      approved by the office to have direct access to children or vulnerable adults under this section;
             222          (ii) (A) not associated with the licensee; and
             223          (B) directly supervised by a person associated with the licensee who is approved by the
             224      office to have direct access to children or vulnerable adults under this section;
             225          (iii) the parent or guardian of the child or vulnerable adult; or
             226          (iv) a person approved by the parent or guardian of the child or vulnerable adult to
             227      have direct access to the child or vulnerable adult.
             228          (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(b), a person may not have direct access to a child
             229      or a vulnerable adult if that person is prohibited by court order from having that access.
             230          (6) (a) Within 30 days after receiving the identifying information for a person under
             231      Subsection (1), the office shall give written notice to the person and to the licensee or applicant
             232      with whom the person is associated of:
             233          (i) the office's decision regarding its background screening clearance and findings; and
             234          (ii) a list of any convictions found in the search.
             235          (b) With the notice described in Subsection (6)(a), the office shall also give to the
             236      person the details of any comprehensive review conducted under Subsection (4).
             237          (c) If the notice under Subsection (6)(a) states that the person is not approved to have
             238      direct access to children or vulnerable adults, the notice shall further advise the persons to
             239      whom the notice is given that either the person or the licensee or applicant with whom the
             240      person is associated, or both, may, under Subsection 62A-2-111 (2), request a hearing in the
             241      department's Office of Administrative Hearings, to challenge the office's decision.
             242          (d) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the


             243      office shall make rules, consistent with this chapter:
             244          (i) defining procedures for the challenge of its background screening decision
             245      described in this Subsection (6); and
             246          (ii) expediting the process for renewal of a license under the requirements of this
             247      section and other applicable sections.
             248          (7) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), this section does not apply to an applicant for
             249      an initial license, or license renewal, to operate a substance abuse program that provides
             250      services to adults only.
             251          (8) (a) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) through (4), the office may not approve or
             252      license a person as a prospective foster parent or a prospective adoptive parent if the person has
             253      been convicted of:
             254          (i) a felony involving conduct that constitutes any of the following:
             255          (A) child abuse, as described in Section 76-5-109 ;
             256          (B) commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, as described in Section
             257      76-5-109.1 ;
             258          (C) abuse or neglect of a disabled child, as described in Section 76-5-110 ;
             259          (D) endangerment of a child, as described in Section 76-5-112.5 ;
             260          (E) aggravated murder, as described in Section 76-5-202 ;
             261          (F) murder, as described in Section 76-5-203 ;
             262          (G) manslaughter, as described in Section 76-5-205 ;
             263          (H) child abuse homicide, as described in Section 76-5-208 ;
             264          (I) homicide by assault, as described in Section 76-5-209 ;
             265          (J) kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-301 ;
             266          (K) child kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-301.1 ;
             267          (L) aggravated kidnapping, as described in Section 76-5-302 ;
             268          (M) an offense described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
             269          (N) an offense described in Title 76, Chapter 5a, Sexual Exploitation of Children;
             270          (O) aggravated arson, as described in Section 76-6-103 ;
             271          (P) aggravated burglary, as described in Section 76-6-203 ;
             272          (Q) aggravated robbery, as described in Section 76-6-302 ; or
             273          (R) domestic violence, as described in Section 77-36-1 ; or


             274          (ii) an offense committed outside the state that, if committed in the state, would
             275      constitute a violation of an offense described in Subsection (8)(a)(i).
             276          (b) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) through (4), the office may not approve or license
             277      a person as a prospective foster parent or a prospective adoptive parent if, within the five years
             278      immediately preceding the day on which the person would otherwise be approved or licensed,
             279      the person has been convicted of a felony involving conduct that constitutes any of the
             280      following:
             281          (i) aggravated assault, as described in Section 76-5-103 ;
             282          (ii) aggravated assault by a prisoner, as described in Section 76-5-103.5 ;
             283          (iii) mayhem, as described in Section 76-5-105 ;
             284          (iv) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act;
             285          (v) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37a, Utah Drug Paraphernalia Act;
             286          (vi) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37b, Imitation Controlled Substances
             287      Act;
             288          (vii) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37c, Utah Controlled Substance
             289      Precursor Act; or
             290          (viii) an offense described in Title 58, Chapter 37d, Clandestine Drug Lab Act.
             291          Section 2. Section 62A-4a-202.1 is amended to read:
             292           62A-4a-202.1. Entering home of a child -- Taking a child into protective custody
             293      -- Caseworker accompanied by peace officer -- Preventive services -- Shelter facility or
             294      emergency placement.
             295          (1) A peace officer or child welfare worker may not enter the home of a child who is
             296      not under the jurisdiction of the court, remove a child from the child's home or school, or take a
             297      child into protective custody unless authorized under Subsection [ 78-3a-106 ] 78A-6-106 (2).
             298          (2) A child welfare worker within the division may take action under Subsection (1)
             299      accompanied by a peace officer, or without a peace officer when a peace officer is not
             300      reasonably available.
             301          (3) (a) If possible, consistent with the child's safety and welfare, before taking a child
             302      into protective custody, the child welfare worker shall also determine whether there are
             303      services available that, if provided to a parent or guardian of the child, would eliminate the
             304      need to remove the child from the custody of the child's parent or guardian.


             305          (b) If the services described in Subsection (3)(a) are reasonably available, they shall be
             306      utilized.
             307          (c) In determining whether the services described in Subsection (3)(a) are reasonably
             308      available, and in making reasonable efforts to provide those services, the child's health, safety,
             309      and welfare shall be the child welfare worker's paramount concern.
             310          (4) (a) A child removed or taken into custody under this section may not be placed or
             311      kept in a secure detention facility pending court proceedings unless the child is detainable
             312      based on guidelines promulgated by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services.
             313          (b) A child removed from the custody of the child's parent or guardian but who does
             314      not require physical restriction shall be given temporary care in:
             315          (i) a shelter facility; or
             316          (ii) an emergency placement in accordance with Section 62A-4a-209 .
             317          (c) When making a placement under Subsection (4)(b), the Division of Child and
             318      Family Services shall give priority to a placement with a noncustodial parent, relative, or
             319      friend, in accordance with Section 62A-4a-209 .
             320          Section 3. Section 62A-4a-206 is amended to read:
             321           62A-4a-206. Process for removal of a child from foster family -- Procedural due
             322      process.
             323          (1) (a) The Legislature finds that, except with regard to a child's natural parent or legal
             324      guardian, a foster family has a very limited but recognized interest in its familial relationship
             325      with a foster child who has been in the care and custody of that family. In making
             326      determinations regarding removal of a child from a foster home, the division may not dismiss
             327      the foster family as a mere collection of unrelated individuals.
             328          (b) The Legislature finds that children in the temporary custody and custody of the
             329      division are experiencing multiple changes in foster care placements with little or no
             330      documentation, and that numerous studies of child growth and development emphasize the
             331      importance of stability in foster care living arrangements.
             332          (c) For the reasons described in Subsections (1)(a) and (b), the division shall provide
             333      procedural due process for a foster family prior to removal of a foster child from their home,
             334      regardless of the length of time the child has been in that home, unless removal is for the
             335      purpose of:


             336          (i) returning the child to the child's natural parent or legal guardian;
             337          (ii) immediately placing the child in an approved adoptive home;
             338          (iii) placing the child with a relative, as defined in Subsection [ 78-3a-307 (5)(d)]
             339      78A-6-307 (1)(b), who obtained custody or asserted an interest in the child within the
             340      preference period described in Subsection [ 78-3a-307 (8)] 78A-6-307 (18)(a); or
             341          (iv) placing an Indian child in accordance with preplacement preferences and other
             342      requirements described in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915.
             343          (2) (a) The division shall maintain and utilize due process procedures for removal of a
             344      foster child from a foster home, in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Title
             345      63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act.
             346          (b) Those procedures shall include requirements for:
             347          (i) personal communication with and explanation to foster parents prior to removal of
             348      the child; and
             349          (ii) an opportunity for foster parents to present their information and concerns to the
             350      division and to request a review by a third party neutral fact finder prior to removal of the
             351      child.
             352          (c) If the division determines that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the child is
             353      in danger or that there is a substantial threat of danger to the health or welfare of the child, it
             354      shall place the child in emergency foster care during the pendency of the procedures described
             355      in this subsection, instead of making another foster care placement.
             356          (3) If the division removes a child from a foster home based upon the child's statement
             357      alone, the division shall initiate and expedite the processes described in Subsection (2). The
             358      division may take no formal action with regard to that foster parent's license until after those
             359      processes, in addition to any other procedure or hearing required by law, have been completed.
             360          (4) When a complaint is made to the division by a foster child against a foster parent,
             361      the division shall, within 30 business days, provide the foster parent with information regarding
             362      the specific nature of the complaint, the time and place of the alleged incident, and who was
             363      alleged to have been involved.
             364          (5) Whenever the division places a child in a foster home, it shall provide the foster
             365      parents with:
             366          (a) notification of the requirements of this section;


             367          (b) a written description of the procedures enacted by the division pursuant to
             368      Subsection (2) and how to access those processes; and
             369          (c) written notification of the foster parents' ability to petition the juvenile court
             370      directly for review of a decision to remove a foster child who has been in their custody for 12
             371      months or longer, in accordance with the limitations and requirements of Section [ 78-3a-315 ]
             372      78A-6-318 .