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S.B. 183

             1     

ADOPTION AGENCY MODIFICATIONS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends Title 62A, Chapter 2, Licensure of Programs and Facilities, Title 78B,
             10      Chapter 6, Particular Proceedings, and Title 78B, Chapter 15, the Utah Uniform
             11      Parentage Act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    requires the Office of Licensing to prohibit an adoption agency or an employee of
             15      an adoption agency from making a fraudulent representation or action in connection
             16      with an adoption;
             17          .    states that a fraudulent representation or action by an adoption agency or an
             18      employee of an adoption agency in connection with an adoption is grounds for the
             19      Office of Licensing to deny, place conditions on, suspend, or revoke the agency's
             20      license, pursuant to Section 62A-2-112 ;
             21          .    provides for an award of attorney fees and costs to a prevailing party in an action
             22      alleging fraudulent representation or action in connection with an adoption; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None


             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:
             30          62A-2-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 75
             31          78B-6-106, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 62A-2-106 is amended to read:
             35           62A-2-106. Office responsibilities.
             36          (1) Subject to the requirements of federal and state law, the office shall:
             37          (a) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
             38      Rulemaking Act, to establish:
             39          (i) except as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), basic health and safety standards for
             40      licensees, that shall be limited to:
             41          (A) fire safety;
             42          (B) food safety;
             43          (C) sanitation;
             44          (D) infectious disease control;
             45          (E) safety of the:
             46          (I) physical facility and grounds; and
             47          (II) area and community surrounding the physical facility;
             48          (F) transportation safety;
             49          (G) emergency preparedness and response;
             50          (H) the administration of medical standards and procedures, consistent with the related
             51      provisions of this title;
             52          (I) staff and client safety and protection;
             53          (J) the administration and maintenance of client and service records;
             54          (K) staff qualifications and training, including standards for permitting experience to
             55      be substituted for education, unless prohibited by law;
             56          (L) staff to client ratios; and
             57          (M) access to firearms;
             58          (ii) basic health and safety standards for therapeutic schools, that shall be limited to:


             59          (A) fire safety, except that the standards are limited to those required by law or rule
             60      under Title 53, Chapter 7, Part 2, Fire Prevention and Fireworks Act;
             61          (B) food safety;
             62          (C) sanitation;
             63          (D) infectious disease control, except that the standards are limited to:
             64          (I) those required by law or rule under Title 26, Utah Health Code or Title 26A, Local
             65      Health Authorities; and
             66          (II) requiring a separate room for clients who are sick;
             67          (E) safety of the physical facility and grounds, except that the standards are limited to
             68      those required by law or rule under Title 53, Chapter 7, Part 2, Fire Prevention and Fireworks
             69      Act;
             70          (F) transportation safety;
             71          (G) emergency preparedness and response;
             72          (H) access to appropriate medical care, including:
             73          (I) subject to the requirements of law, designation of a person who is authorized to
             74      dispense medication; and
             75          (II) storing, tracking, and securing medication;
             76          (I) staff and client safety and protection that permits the school to provide for the direct
             77      supervision of clients at all times;
             78          (J) the administration and maintenance of client and service records;
             79          (K) staff qualifications and training, including standards for permitting experience to
             80      be substituted for education, unless prohibited by law;
             81          (L) staff to client ratios; and
             82          (M) access to firearms;
             83          (iii) procedures and standards for permitting a licensee to:
             84          (A) provide in the same facility and under the same conditions as children, residential
             85      treatment services to a person 18 years old or older who:
             86          (I) begins to reside at the licensee's residential treatment facility before the person's
             87      18th birthday;
             88          (II) has resided at the licensee's residential treatment facility continuously since the
             89      time described in Subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A)(I);


             90          (III) has not completed the course of treatment for which the person began residing at
             91      the licensee's residential treatment facility; and
             92          (IV) voluntarily consents to complete the course of treatment described in Subsection
             93      (1)(a)(iii)(A)(III); or
             94          (B) (I) provide residential treatment services to a child who is:
             95          (Aa) 12 years old or older; and
             96          (Bb) under the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services; and
             97          (II) provide, in the same facility as a child described in Subsection (1)(a)(iii)(B)(I),
             98      residential treatment services to a person who is:
             99          (Aa) at least 18 years old, but younger than 21 years old; and
             100          (Bb) under the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services;
             101          (iv) minimum administration and financial requirements for licensees; [and]
             102          (v) guidelines for variances from rules established under this Subsection (1); and
             103          (vi) minimum ethical responsibilities of an adoption agency licensed under this
             104      chapter, including prohibiting an adoption agency or its employee from engaging in a
             105      fraudulent representation or action in connection with an adoption;
             106          (b) enforce rules relating to the office;
             107          (c) issue licenses in accordance with this chapter;
             108          (d) if the United States Department of State executes an agreement with the office that
             109      designates the office to act as an accrediting entity in accordance with the Intercountry
             110      Adoption Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-279, accredit one or more agencies and persons to
             111      provide intercountry adoption services pursuant to:
             112          (i) the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-279; and
             113          (ii) the implementing regulations for the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, Pub. L.
             114      No. 106-279;
             115          (e) make rules to implement the provisions of Subsection (1)(d);
             116          (f) conduct surveys and inspections of licensees and facilities in accordance with
             117      Section 62A-2-118 ;
             118          (g) collect licensure fees;
             119          (h) notify licensees of the name of a person within the department to contact when
             120      filing a complaint;


             121          (i) investigate complaints regarding any licensee or human services program;
             122          (j) have access to all records, correspondence, and financial data required to be
             123      maintained by a licensee;
             124          (k) have authority to interview any client, family member of a client, employee, or
             125      officer of a licensee; and
             126          (l) have authority to deny, condition, revoke, suspend, or extend any license issued by
             127      the department under this chapter by following the procedures and requirements of Title 63G,
             128      Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act.
             129          (2) In establishing rules under Subsection (1)(a)(ii)(G), the office shall require a
             130      licensee to establish and comply with an emergency response plan that requires clients and staff
             131      to:
             132          (a) immediately report to law enforcement any significant criminal activity, as defined
             133      by rule, committed:
             134          (i) on the premises where the licensee operates its human services program;
             135          (ii) by or against its clients; or
             136          (iii) by or against a staff member while the staff member is on duty;
             137          (b) immediately report to emergency medical services any medical emergency, as
             138      defined by rule:
             139          (i) on the premises where the licensee operates its human services program;
             140          (ii) involving its clients; or
             141          (iii) involving a staff member while the staff member is on duty; and
             142          (c) immediately report other emergencies that occur on the premises where the licensee
             143      operates its human services program to the appropriate emergency services agency.
             144          Section 2. Section 78B-6-106 is amended to read:
             145           78B-6-106. Responsibility of each party for own actions -- Fraud or
             146      misrepresentation.
             147          (1) Each parent of a child conceived or born outside of marriage is responsible for his
             148      or her own actions and is not excused from strict compliance with the provisions of this
             149      chapter based upon any action, statement, or omission of the other parent or third parties.
             150          (2) (a) Any person injured by fraudulent representations or actions in connection with
             151      an adoption is entitled to pursue civil or criminal penalties in accordance with existing law.


             152          (b) The prevailing party in a court proceeding alleging fraudulent representation or
             153      action by a birth mother, adoption agency, or an employee of an adoption agency is entitled to
             154      an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs.
             155          (3) A fraudulent representation or action on the part of a licensed adoption agency, or
             156      an employee of a licensed adoption agency, in violation of a rule made under Subsection
             157      62A-2-106 (1)(a)(vi) is grounds for punishment under Section 62A-2-112 .
             158          (4) A fraudulent representation is not:
             159          (a) a defense to strict compliance with the requirements of this chapter[, and is not]; or
             160          (b) a basis for dismissal of a petition for adoption, vacation of an adoption decree, or
             161      an automatic grant of custody to the offended party. [Custody]
             162          (5) Subject to Subsection (6), custody determinations shall be based on the best
             163      interest of the child, in accordance with the provisions of Section 78B-6-133 .
             164          (6) When an adoption is facilitated by fraudulent representation or action, and court
             165      proceedings have significantly delayed a final custody determination, due process shall be a
             166      greater consideration than bonding of the child to the adoptive parent when reunification
             167      therapy is available and required.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-7-13 8:52 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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