H.B. 156

1

RESTORATION OF TERMINATED PARENTAL RIGHTS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen
5 Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile Court Act, by amending provisions
10 relating to the termination of parental rights and permitting the restoration of terminated
11 parental rights.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . defines terms;
15 . authorizes a parent to nominate a relative to serve as a legal guardian for the parent's
16 child in the event of a termination of parental rights;
17 . describes the circumstances under which a court may grant a guardianship petition;
18 . permits a former parent, or a child 12 years of age or older, to submit a motion for
19 restoration of terminated parental rights under certain circumstances;
20 . describes the duties of the Division of Child and Family Services in responding to a
21 motion for restoration of terminated parental rights;
22 . describes the circumstances under which a court may grant a motion for restoration
23 of terminated parental rights; and
24 . makes technical changes.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:

28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 AMENDS:
31 78A-6-511, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 293
32 78A-6-513, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
33 ENACTS:
34 78A-6-502.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 78A-6-507.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 78A-6-1401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 78A-6-1402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 78A-6-1403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39 78A-6-1404, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40
41 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42 Section 1. Section 78A-6-502.5 is enacted to read:
43 78A-6-502.5. Statement of parental liberty interests.
44 (1) The severance and termination of family ties by the state is a step of the utmost
45 gravity, which may only be done for the most compelling reasons.
46 (2) It is generally in the best interest and welfare of a child to be reared under the care
47 of the child's natural parents.
48 (3) Termination of parental rights cannot be decreed without giving full and serious
49 consideration to the prior and fundamental right of a parent to rear the parent's child and,
50 concomitantly, of the right of the child to be reared by the child's natural parent.
51 (4) A parent has a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution to sustain the
52 parent's relationship with the parent's child.
53 (5) (a) Recognition of due process and retained rights of parents promotes values
54 essential to the preservation of human freedom and dignity and the perpetuation of our
55 democratic society.
56 (b) Any invasion of the sanctity of the family, even with the loftiest of motives,
57 unavoidably threatens the values described in Subsection (5)(a).
58 (6) No court shall, but for the gravest of reasons, transfer a child from the child's

59 natural parent to any other person, since the right of a parent under natural law to establish a
60 home and bring up children is fundamental and beyond the reach of any court.
61 (7) Where there is still reason to believe that positive, nurturing parent-child
62 relationships can exist, including extended family association and support, the interest of the
63 state favors preservation, not severance, of natural familial bonds.
64 Section 2. Section 78A-6-507.5 is enacted to read:
65 78A-6-507.5. Contesting a petition to terminate parental rights -- Submitting a
66 nominee for guardianship -- Guardianship process.
67 (1) A parent who receives notice of a petition to terminate parental rights under Section
68 78A-6-506 and disputes that the parent's parental rights should be terminated, may:
69 (a) contest the petition; and
70 (b) in the alternative, submit a petition naming an individual to serve as legal guardian
71 for the child, if:
72 (i) the nominee is an adult who is a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, great-aunt,
73 uncle, great-uncle, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepparent, first cousin, sibling, or stepsibling
74 of the child;
75 (ii) the nominee consents to the guardianship relationship; and
76 (iii) the parent's rights are ultimately terminated.
77 (2) The division shall make a recommendation to the court regarding the fitness of the
78 nominee described in Subsection (1) to serve as the child's guardian.
79 (3) The court shall:
80 (a) consider:
81 (i) the principles, rights, protections, and requirements described and recognized in this
82 part;
83 (ii) the recommendation of the division, described in Subsection (2);
84 (iii) the desires of the child, if the child is 12 years of age or older;
85 (iv) the fundamental right of a parent to choose who shall raise and care for the parent's
86 child; and
87 (v) the fundamental right of a child to be reared by the child's parent or the parent's
88 designee; and
89 (b) if it appears the parent will not be able to successfully contest the petition for

90 termination of parental rights, order a legal guardianship relationship between the child and the
91 nominee, if it is in the best interest of the child and a means of achieving the strong public
92 policy in support of family preservation.
93 (4) In an order granting the petition for guardianship, the court shall describe:
94 (a) what limitations, if any, the guardian shall place on the parent's access to the child
95 as a condition for continued guardianship; and
96 (b) what role, if any, the division will fill in supervising the guardianship placement.
97 (5) If granted, the court shall review the guardianship placement six months after the
98 day on which the guardianship petition is granted to review whether guardianship is still
99 appropriate and consistent with controlling constitutional rights.
100 (6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as a guarantee that a nominee will be
101 allowed to serve as a legal guardian for a child, but the nominee shall be given added weight
102 and strong and thorough consideration.
103 (7) Legal guardianship, as described and established in this section, is:
104 (a) considered a permanent placement for purposes of complying with federal law, if
105 the guardianship is ordered without the continued supervision of the division; and
106 (b) most appropriate when a former parent:
107 (i) has made progress toward becoming a fit parent, but has not yet succeeded; and
108 (ii) may become a fit parent with additional time and assistance.
109 Section 3. Section 78A-6-511 is amended to read:
110 78A-6-511. Court disposition of child upon termination.
111 (1) As used in this section, "relative" means:
112 (a) an adult who is a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, great aunt, uncle, great
113 uncle, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepparent, first cousin, sibling, or stepsibling of a child;
114 and
115 (b) in the case of a child defined as an "Indian" under the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25
116 U.S.C. Sec. 1903, "relative" also means an "extended family member" as defined by that
117 statute.
118 (2) Upon entry of an order under this part the court may:
119 (a) place the child in the legal custody and guardianship of a licensed child placement
120 agency or the division for adoption; [or]

121 (b) make any other disposition of the child authorized under Section 78A-6-117 [.]; or
122 (c) place the child in a guardianship relationship under Section 78A-6-513.5 .
123 (3) Subject to the requirements of Subsections (4) and (5), all adoptable children
124 placed in the custody of the division shall be placed for adoption.
125 (4) If the parental rights of all parents of an adoptable child placed in the custody of the
126 division have been terminated and a suitable adoptive placement is not already available, the
127 court:
128 (a) shall determine whether there is a relative who desires to adopt the child;
129 (b) may order the division to conduct a reasonable search to determine whether there
130 are relatives who are willing to adopt the child; [and]
131 (c) shall, if a relative desires to adopt the child:
132 (i) make a specific finding regarding the fitness of the relative to adopt the child; and
133 (ii) place the child for adoption with that relative unless it finds that adoption by the
134 relative is not in the best interest of the child[.]; and
135 (d) shall consider a legal guardianship, under Section 78A-6-513.5 .
136 (5) This section does not guarantee that a relative will be permitted to adopt the child.
137 Section 4. Section 78A-6-513 is amended to read:
138 78A-6-513. Effect of decree.
139 (1) An order for the termination of the parent-child legal relationship divests the child
140 and the parents of all legal rights, powers, immunities, duties, and obligations with respect to
141 each other, except the right of the child to inherit from the parent.
142 (2) An order or decree entered pursuant to this part may not disentitle a child to any
143 benefit due him from any third person, including, but not limited to, any Indian tribe, agency,
144 state, or the United States.
145 (3) [After] Except as provided in Section 78A-6-513.5 , after the termination of a
146 parent-child legal relationship, the former parent is neither entitled to any notice of proceedings
147 for the adoption of the child nor has any right to object to the adoption or to participate in any
148 other placement proceedings.
149 Section 5. Section 78A-6-1401 is enacted to read:
150 Part 14. Restoration of Parental Rights Act
151 78A-6-1401. Restoration of Parental Rights Act.

152 This part is known as the "Restoration of Parental Rights Act."
153 Section 6. Section 78A-6-1402 is enacted to read:
154 78A-6-1402. Definitions.
155 As used in this part, "former parent" means an individual whose legal parental rights
156 were terminated under this chapter.
157 Section 7. Section 78A-6-1403 is enacted to read:
158 78A-6-1403. Motion to restore parental rights -- Duties of the division.
159 (1) The following individuals may file a motion to restore parental rights:
160 (a) a child, age 12 or older, whose parent-child relationship to the former parent was
161 terminated under this chapter, or an individual acting on the child's behalf; or
162 (b) a former parent of the child named in the motion.
163 (2) (a) An individual described in Subsection (1) may file a motion to restore parental
164 rights or parental contact between a child and a parent whose rights have been terminated if:
165 (i) 12 months have passed since the court ordered termination of the parent-child legal
166 relationship and the child has not been adopted; or
167 (ii) the child has been adopted, but the adoptive parents have relinquished the child to
168 the custody of the division or another person.
169 (b) The motion described in Subsection (2)(a) shall be filed:
170 (i) in the court in which permanency hearings for the child are being conducted; and
171 (ii) on the division.
172 (3) The court shall set a hearing on the motion at least 30 days, but no more than 60
173 days, after the day on which the motion is filed with the court.
174 (4) Upon receipt of the motion to restore parental rights, the division shall, if the
175 individual who filed the motion is a child:
176 (a) make a diligent effort to locate the former parent whose rights may be restored
177 under this part; and
178 (b) notify the former parent of:
179 (i) the legal effects of restoration; and
180 (ii) the time and date of the hearing on the motion.
181 (5) Before the hearing described in Subsection (3), the division shall submit a
182 confidential report to the court and the petitioner that includes the following information:

183 (a) material changes in circumstances since the termination of parental rights;
184 (b) a summary of the reasons why parental rights were terminated;
185 (c) the date on which parental rights were terminated;
186 (d) the willingness of the former parent to resume contact with the child and have
187 parental rights restored;
188 (e) the willingness of the child to resume contact with the former parent and have
189 parental rights restored;
190 (f) the ability of the former parent to be involved in the life of the child and accept
191 physical custody of, and responsibility for, the child; and
192 (g) any other information the division reasonably considers appropriate and
193 determinative.
194 Section 8. Section 78A-6-1404 is enacted to read:
195 78A-6-1404. Hearing on the motion to restore parental rights.
196 (1) At the hearing on the motion described in Section 78A-6-1403 , the court, if it finds
197 by a preponderance of the evidence that it is in the best interest of the child, may:
198 (a) allow contact between the former parent and child, and describe the conditions
199 under which contact may take place;
200 (b) order that the child be placed with the former parent in a temporary guardianship
201 relationship, to be re-evaluated six months from the day on which the child is placed; or
202 (c) restore the parental rights of the parent.
203 (2) (a) In determining whether reunification is required and in the best interest of the
204 child, the court shall consider:
205 (i) whether the former parent has been sufficiently rehabilitated from the behavior that
206 resulted in the termination of the parent-child relationship; and
207 (ii) extended family support for the former parent.
208 (b) The court shall also consider the fundamental liberty interests of the former parent
209 and child.
210 (3) If the court orders the child to be placed in the physical custody of the former
211 parent under Subsection (1), the court shall specify in the order:
212 (a) whether that custody is subject to:
213 (i) continued evaluation by the court; or

214 (ii) the supervision of the division; and
215 (b) the terms and conditions of reunification.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-21-13 7:59 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

[Bill Documents]