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S.B. 255

             1     

HUMAN SERVICES AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

             5     
House Sponsor: Paul Ray

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Child and Family Services, Title 67, Chapter
             10      5, Attorney General, Title 78A, Chapter 2, Judicial Administration, and Title 78A,
             11      Chapter 6, Juvenile Court Act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    amends training requirements for Division of Child and Family Services
             15      caseworkers;
             16          .    requires the Division of Child and Family Services to make a report to the 2013
             17      Health and Human Services Interim Committee on:
             18              .    shifting resources and staff to in-home services;
             19              .    proposals aimed at keeping sibling groups together, as much as possible, and
             20      providing necessary services to structured foster families to avoid sending foster
             21      children to proctor homes;
             22              .    the disparity between foster care payments and adoption subsidies, and whether
             23      an adjustment to those rates could result in savings to the state; and
             24              .    the utilization of a guardianship placement after a termination of parental rights,
             25      if no appropriate adoption placement is available;
             26          .    requires the 2013 Health and Human Services Interim Committee to study whether
             27      statewide practice standards should be implemented to assist the Child Welfare


             28      Parental Defense Program;
             29          .    requires training for attorneys general who represent the Division of Child and
             30      Family Services, child protective service investigators, and guardians ad litem;
             31          .    requires a court, in determining primary permanency and concurrent permanency
             32      plans, to prioritize a kinship placement, consider guardianship placement, and
             33      utilize an individualized placement goal as a last resort only;
             34          .    eliminate the 8-month time frame for a child younger than 36 months in the custody
             35      of the division; and
             36          .    makes technical changes.
             37      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             38          None
             39      Other Special Clauses:
             40          None
             41      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             42      AMENDS:
             43          62A-4a-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 293
             44          62A-4a-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 299
             45          67-5-16, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 274
             46          78A-2-227.5, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 223
             47          78A-6-312, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 293
             48     
             49      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             50          Section 1. Section 62A-4a-107 is amended to read:
             51           62A-4a-107. Mandatory education and training of caseworkers -- Development of
             52      curriculum.
             53          (1) There is created within the division a full-time position of Child Welfare Training
             54      Coordinator, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director. The employee
             55      in that position is not responsible for direct casework services or the supervision of those
             56      services, but is required to:
             57          (a) develop child welfare curriculum that:
             58          (i) is current and effective, consistent with the division's mission and purpose for child


             59      welfare; and
             60          (ii) utilizes curriculum and resources from a variety of sources including those from:
             61          (A) the public sector;
             62          (B) the private sector; and
             63          (C) inside and outside of the state;
             64          (b) recruit, select, and supervise child welfare trainers;
             65          (c) develop a statewide training program, including a budget and identification of
             66      sources of funding to support that training;
             67          (d) evaluate the efficacy of training in improving job performance;
             68          (e) assist child protective services and foster care workers in developing and fulfilling
             69      their individual training plans;
             70          (f) monitor staff compliance with division training requirements and individual training
             71      plans; and
             72          (g) expand the collaboration between the division and schools of social work within
             73      institutions of higher education in developing child welfare services curriculum, and in
             74      providing and evaluating training.
             75          (2) (a) The director shall, with the assistance of the child welfare training coordinator,
             76      establish a core curriculum for child welfare services that is substantially equivalent to the
             77      Child Welfare League of America's Core Training for Child Welfare Caseworkers Curriculum.
             78          (b) Any child welfare caseworker who is employed by the division for the first time
             79      after July 1, 1999, shall, before assuming significant independent casework responsibilities,
             80      successfully complete:
             81          (i) the core curriculum; and
             82          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), on-the-job training that consists of
             83      observing and accompanying at least two capable and experienced child welfare caseworkers
             84      as they perform work-related functions:
             85          (A) for three months if the caseworker has less than six months of on-the-job
             86      experience as a child welfare caseworker; or
             87          (B) for two months if the caseworker has six months or more but less than 24 months
             88      of on-the-job experience as a child welfare caseworker.
             89          (c) A child welfare caseworker with at least 24 months of on-the-job experience is not


             90      required to receive on-the-job training under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
             91          (3) Child welfare caseworkers shall complete training in:
             92          (a) the legal duties of a child welfare caseworker;
             93          (b) the responsibility of a child welfare caseworker to protect the safety and legal rights
             94      of children, parents, and families at all stages of a case, including:
             95          (i) initial contact;
             96          (ii) investigation; and
             97          (iii) treatment;
             98          (c) recognizing situations involving:
             99          (i) substance abuse;
             100          (ii) domestic violence;
             101          (iii) abuse; and
             102          (iv) neglect; and
             103          (d) the relationship of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of
             104      the United States to the child welfare caseworker's job, including:
             105          (i) search and seizure of evidence;
             106          (ii) the warrant requirement;
             107          (iii) exceptions to the warrant requirement; and
             108          (iv) removing a child from the custody of the child's parent or guardian.
             109          (4) The division shall train its child welfare caseworkers to apply the risk assessment
             110      tools and rules described in Subsection 62A-4a-1002 (2).
             111          (5) The division shall use the training of child welfare caseworkers to emphasize:
             112          (a) the importance of maintaining the parent-child relationship whenever possible;
             113          (b) the preference for providing in-home services over taking a child into protective
             114      custody, both for the emotional well-being of the child and the efficient allocation of resources;
             115      and
             116          (c) the importance and priority of:
             117          (i) kinship placement in the event a child must be taken into protective custody[.]; and
             118          (ii) guardianship placement, in the event the parent-child relationship is legally
             119      terminated and no appropriate adoptive placement is available.
             120          (6) When a child welfare caseworker is hired, before assuming significant independent


             121      casework responsibilities, the child welfare caseworker shall complete the training described in
             122      Subsections (3) through (5).
             123          Section 2. Section 62A-4a-401 is amended to read:
             124           62A-4a-401. Legislative purpose -- Report and study items.
             125          (1) It is the purpose of this part to protect the best interests of children, offer protective
             126      services to prevent harm to children, stabilize the home environment, preserve family life
             127      whenever possible, and encourage cooperation among the states in dealing with the problem of
             128      abuse or neglect.
             129          (2) The division shall, during the 2013 Interim, report to the Health and Human
             130      Services Interim Committee on:
             131          (a) the division's efforts to use existing staff and funds while shifting resources away
             132      from foster care and to in-home services;
             133          (b) a proposal to:
             134          (i) keep sibling groups together, as much as possible; and
             135          (ii) provide necessary services to available structured foster families to avoid sending
             136      foster children to proctor homes;
             137          (c) the disparity between foster care payments and adoption subsidies, and whether an
             138      adjustment to those rates could result in savings to the state; and
             139          (d) the utilization of guardianship, in the event an appropriate adoptive placement is
             140      not available after a termination of parental rights.
             141          (3) The Health and Human Services Interim Committee shall, during the 2013 interim,
             142      study whether statewide practice standards should be implemented to assist the Child Welfare
             143      Parental Defense Program with its mission to provide legal services to indigent parents whose
             144      children are in the custody of the division.
             145          Section 3. Section 67-5-16 is amended to read:
             146           67-5-16. Child protective services investigators within attorney general's office --
             147      Authority -- Training.
             148          (1) The attorney general may employ, with the consent of the Division of Child and
             149      Family Services within the Department of Human Services, and in accordance with Section
             150      62A-4a-202.6 , child protective services investigators to investigate alleged instances of abuse
             151      or neglect of a child that occur while a child is in the custody of the Division of Child and


             152      Family Services. Those investigators may also investigate reports of abuse or neglect of a child
             153      by an employee of the Department of Human Services, or involving a person or entity licensed
             154      to provide substitute care for children in the custody of the Division of Child and Family
             155      Services.
             156          (2) Attorneys who represent the Division of Child and Family Services under Section
             157      67-5-17 , and child protective services investigators employed by the attorney general under
             158      Subsection (1), shall be trained on:
             159          (a) the priority of maintaining a child safely in the child's home, whenever possible;
             160          (b) the importance of:
             161          (i) kinship placement, in the event the child is removed from the home; and
             162          (ii) keeping sibling groups together, whenever practicable and in the best interests of
             163      the children;
             164          (c) the preference for kinship adoption over nonkinship adoption, if the parent-child
             165      relationship is legally terminated;
             166          (d) the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally
             167      terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and
             168          (e) the use of an individualized permanency goal, only as a last resort.
             169          Section 4. Section 78A-2-227.5 is amended to read:
             170           78A-2-227.5. Public policy regarding guardian ad litem -- Training.
             171          (1) A guardian ad litem may not presume that a child and the child's parent are
             172      adversaries.
             173          (2) A guardian ad litem shall be trained in:
             174          (a) the parental rights and child and family protection principles provided in Section
             175      62A-4a-201 ;
             176          (b) the fundamental liberties of parents and the public policy of the state to support
             177      family unification to the fullest extent possible;
             178          (c) the constitutionally protected rights of parents, in cases where the state is a party;
             179      [and]
             180          (d) the use of a least restrictive means analysis regarding state claims of a compelling
             181      child welfare interest[.];
             182          (e) the priority of maintaining a child safely in the child's home, whenever possible;


             183          (f) the importance of:
             184          (i) kinship placement, in the event the child is removed from the home; and
             185          (ii) keeping sibling groups together, whenever practicable and in the best interests of
             186      the children;
             187          (g) the preference for kinship adoption over nonkinship adoption, if the parent-child
             188      relationship is legally terminated;
             189          (h) the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally
             190      terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and
             191          (i) the use of an individualized permanency plan, only as a last resort.
             192          Section 5. Section 78A-6-312 is amended to read:
             193           78A-6-312. Dispositional hearing -- Reunification services -- Exceptions.
             194          (1) The court may:
             195          (a) make any of the dispositions described in Section 78A-6-117 ;
             196          (b) place the minor in the custody or guardianship of any:
             197          (i) individual; or
             198          (ii) public or private entity or agency; or
             199          (c) order:
             200          (i) protective supervision;
             201          (ii) family preservation;
             202          (iii) subject to Subsection 78A-6-117 (2)(n)(iii), medical or mental health treatment; or
             203          (iv) other services.
             204          (2) Whenever the court orders continued removal at the dispositional hearing, and that
             205      the minor remain in the custody of the division, the court shall first:
             206          (a) establish a primary permanency goal for the minor; and
             207          (b) determine whether, in view of the primary permanency goal, reunification services
             208      are appropriate for the minor and the minor's family, pursuant to Subsections (20) through (22).
             209          (3) Subject to Subsections (6) and (7), if the court determines that reunification
             210      services are appropriate for the minor and the minor's family, the court shall provide for
             211      reasonable parent-time with the parent or parents from whose custody the minor was removed,
             212      unless parent-time is not in the best interest of the minor.
             213          (4) In cases where obvious sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, abandonment, severe


             214      abuse, or severe neglect are involved, neither the division nor the court has any duty to make
             215      "reasonable efforts" or to, in any other way, attempt to provide reunification services, or to
             216      attempt to rehabilitate the offending parent or parents.
             217          (5) In all cases, the minor's health, safety, and welfare shall be the court's paramount
             218      concern in determining whether reasonable efforts to reunify should be made.
             219          (6) For purposes of Subsection (3), parent-time is in the best interests of a minor unless
             220      the court makes a finding that it is necessary to deny parent-time in order to:
             221          (a) protect the physical safety of the minor;
             222          (b) protect the life of the minor; or
             223          (c) prevent the minor from being traumatized by contact with the parent due to the
             224      minor's fear of the parent in light of the nature of the alleged abuse or neglect.
             225          (7) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), a court may not deny parent-time based solely on a
             226      parent's failure to:
             227          (a) prove that the parent has not used legal or illegal substances; or
             228          (b) comply with an aspect of the child and family plan that is ordered by the court.
             229          (8) (a) In addition to the primary permanency goal, the court shall establish a
             230      concurrent permanency goal that shall include:
             231          [(a)] (i) a representative list of the conditions under which the primary permanency
             232      goal will be abandoned in favor of the concurrent permanency goal; and
             233          [(b)] (ii) an explanation of the effect of abandoning or modifying the primary
             234      permanency goal.
             235          (b) In determining the primary permanency goal and concurrent permanency goal, the
             236      court shall consider:
             237          (i) the preference for kinship placement over nonkinship placement;
             238          (ii) the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally
             239      terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and
             240          (iii) the use of an individualized permanency goal, only as a last resort.
             241          (9) A permanency hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Subsection
             242      78A-6-314 (1)(b) within 30 days after the day on which the dispositional hearing ends if
             243      something other than reunification is initially established as a minor's primary permanency
             244      goal.


             245          (10) (a) The court may amend a minor's primary permanency goal before the
             246      establishment of a final permanency plan under Section 78A-6-314 .
             247          (b) The court is not limited to the terms of the concurrent permanency goal in the event
             248      that the primary permanency goal is abandoned.
             249          (c) If, at any time, the court determines that reunification is no longer a minor's primary
             250      permanency goal, the court shall conduct a permanency hearing in accordance with Section
             251      78A-6-314 on or before the earlier of:
             252          (i) 30 days after the day on which the court makes the determination described in this
             253      Subsection (10)(c); or
             254          (ii) the day on which the provision of reunification services, described in Section
             255      78A-6-314 , ends.
             256          (11) (a) If the court determines that reunification services are appropriate, it shall order
             257      that the division make reasonable efforts to provide services to the minor and the minor's
             258      parent for the purpose of facilitating reunification of the family, for a specified period of time.
             259          (b) In providing the services described in Subsection (11)(a), the minor's health, safety,
             260      and welfare shall be the division's paramount concern, and the court shall so order.
             261          (12) The court shall:
             262          (a) determine whether the services offered or provided by the division under the child
             263      and family plan constitute "reasonable efforts" on the part of the division;
             264          (b) determine and define the responsibilities of the parent under the child and family
             265      plan in accordance with Subsection 62A-4a-205 (6)(e); and
             266          (c) identify verbally on the record, or in a written document provided to the parties, the
             267      responsibilities described in Subsection (12)(b), for the purpose of assisting in any future
             268      determination regarding the provision of reasonable efforts, in accordance with state and
             269      federal law.
             270          (13) (a) The time period for reunification services may not exceed 12 months from the
             271      date that the minor was initially removed from the minor's home, unless the time period is
             272      extended under Subsection 78A-6-314 (8).
             273          (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to entitle any parent to an entire 12
             274      months of reunification services.
             275          (14) (a) If reunification services are ordered, the court may terminate those services at


             276      any time.
             277          (b) If, at any time, continuation of reasonable efforts to reunify a minor is determined
             278      to be inconsistent with the final permanency plan for the minor established pursuant to Section
             279      78A-6-314 , then measures shall be taken, in a timely manner, to:
             280          (i) place the minor in accordance with the permanency plan; and
             281          (ii) complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the
             282      minor.
             283          (15) Any physical custody of the minor by the parent or a relative during the period
             284      described in Subsections (11) through (14) does not interrupt the running of the period.
             285          (16) (a) If reunification services are ordered, a permanency hearing shall be conducted
             286      by the court in accordance with Section 78A-6-314 at the expiration of the time period for
             287      reunification services.
             288          (b) The permanency hearing shall be held no later than 12 months after the original
             289      removal of the minor.
             290          (c) If reunification services are not ordered, a permanency hearing shall be conducted
             291      within 30 days, in accordance with Section 78A-6-314 .
             292          [(17) With regard to a minor who is 36 months of age or younger at the time the minor
             293      is initially removed from the home, the court shall:]
             294          [(a) hold a permanency hearing eight months after the date of the initial removal,
             295      pursuant to Section 78A-6-314 ; and]
             296          [(b) order the discontinuance of those services after eight months from the initial
             297      removal of the minor from the home if the parent or parents have not made substantial efforts
             298      to comply with the child and family plan.]
             299          [(18)] (17) With regard to a minor in the custody of the division whose parent or
             300      parents are ordered to receive reunification services but who have abandoned that minor for a
             301      period of six months from the date that reunification services were ordered:
             302          (a) the court shall terminate reunification services; and
             303          (b) the division shall petition the court for termination of parental rights.
             304          [(19)] (18) When a court conducts a permanency hearing for a minor under Section
             305      78A-6-314 , the court shall attempt to keep the minor's sibling group together if keeping the
             306      sibling group together is:


             307          (a) practicable; and
             308          (b) in accordance with the best interest of the minor.
             309          [(20)] (19) (a) Because of the state's interest in and responsibility to protect and provide
             310      permanency for minors who are abused, neglected, or dependent, the Legislature finds that a
             311      parent's interest in receiving reunification services is limited.
             312          (b) The court may determine that:
             313          (i) efforts to reunify a minor with the minor's family are not reasonable or appropriate,
             314      based on the individual circumstances; and
             315          (ii) reunification services should not be provided.
             316          (c) In determining "reasonable efforts" to be made with respect to a minor, and in
             317      making "reasonable efforts," the minor's health, safety, and welfare shall be the paramount
             318      concern.
             319          [(21)] (20) There is a presumption that reunification services should not be provided to
             320      a parent if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that any of the following
             321      circumstances exist:
             322          (a) the whereabouts of the parents are unknown, based upon a verified affidavit
             323      indicating that a reasonably diligent search has failed to locate the parent;
             324          (b) subject to Subsection [(22)] (21)(a), the parent is suffering from a mental illness of
             325      such magnitude that it renders the parent incapable of utilizing reunification services;
             326          (c) the minor was previously adjudicated as an abused child due to physical abuse,
             327      sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation, and following the adjudication the minor:
             328          (i) was removed from the custody of the minor's parent;
             329          (ii) was subsequently returned to the custody of the parent; and
             330          (iii) is being removed due to additional physical abuse, sexual abuse, or sexual
             331      exploitation;
             332          (d) the parent:
             333          (i) caused the death of another minor through abuse or neglect;
             334          (ii) committed, aided, abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit:
             335          (A) murder or manslaughter of a child; or
             336          (B) child abuse homicide;
             337          (iii) committed sexual abuse against the child; or


             338          (iv) is a registered sex offender or required to register as a sex offender;
             339          (e) the minor suffered severe abuse by the parent or by any person known by the
             340      parent, if the parent knew or reasonably should have known that the person was abusing the
             341      minor;
             342          (f) the minor is adjudicated an abused child as a result of severe abuse by the parent,
             343      and the court finds that it would not benefit the minor to pursue reunification services with the
             344      offending parent;
             345          (g) the parent's rights are terminated with regard to any other minor;
             346          (h) the minor is removed from the minor's home on at least two previous occasions and
             347      reunification services were offered or provided to the family at those times;
             348          (i) the parent has abandoned the minor for a period of six months or longer;
             349          (j) the parent permitted the child to reside, on a permanent or temporary basis, at a
             350      location where the parent knew or should have known that a clandestine laboratory operation
             351      was located;
             352          (k) except as provided in Subsection [(22)] (21)(b), with respect to a parent who is the
             353      child's birth mother, the child has fetal alcohol syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or
             354      was exposed to an illegal or prescription drug that was abused by the child's mother while the
             355      child was in utero, if the child was taken into division custody for that reason, unless the
             356      mother agrees to enroll in, is currently enrolled in, or has recently and successfully completed a
             357      substance abuse treatment program approved by the department; or
             358          (l) any other circumstance that the court determines should preclude reunification
             359      efforts or services.
             360          [(22)] (21) (a) The finding under Subsection [(21)] (20)(b) shall be based on competent
             361      evidence from at least two medical or mental health professionals, who are not associates,
             362      establishing that, even with the provision of services, the parent is not likely to be capable of
             363      adequately caring for the minor within 12 months after the day on which the court finding is
             364      made.
             365          (b) A judge may disregard the provisions of Subsection [(21)] (20)(k) if the court finds,
             366      under the circumstances of the case, that the substance abuse treatment described in Subsection
             367      [(21)] (20)(k) is not warranted.
             368          [(23)] (22) In determining whether reunification services are appropriate, the court


             369      shall take into consideration:
             370          (a) failure of the parent to respond to previous services or comply with a previous child
             371      and family plan;
             372          (b) the fact that the minor was abused while the parent was under the influence of
             373      drugs or alcohol;
             374          (c) any history of violent behavior directed at the child or an immediate family
             375      member;
             376          (d) whether a parent continues to live with an individual who abused the minor;
             377          (e) any patterns of the parent's behavior that have exposed the minor to repeated abuse;
             378          (f) testimony by a competent professional that the parent's behavior is unlikely to be
             379      successful; and
             380          (g) whether the parent has expressed an interest in reunification with the minor.
             381          [(24)] (23) (a) If reunification services are not ordered pursuant to Subsections [(20)]
             382      (19) through [(22)] (21), and the whereabouts of a parent become known within six months
             383      after the day on which the out-of-home placement of the minor is made, the court may order
             384      the division to provide reunification services.
             385          (b) The time limits described in Subsections (2) through [(19)] (18) are not tolled by
             386      the parent's absence.
             387          [(25)] (24) (a) If a parent is incarcerated or institutionalized, the court shall order
             388      reasonable services unless it determines that those services would be detrimental to the minor.
             389          (b) In making the determination described in Subsection [(25)] (24)(a), the court shall
             390      consider:
             391          (i) the age of the minor;
             392          (ii) the degree of parent-child bonding;
             393          (iii) the length of the sentence;
             394          (iv) the nature of the treatment;
             395          (v) the nature of the crime or illness;
             396          (vi) the degree of detriment to the minor if services are not offered;
             397          (vii) for a minor 10 years of age or older, the minor's attitude toward the
             398      implementation of family reunification services; and
             399          (viii) any other appropriate factors.


             400          (c) Reunification services for an incarcerated parent are subject to the time limitations
             401      imposed in Subsections (2) through [(19)] (18).
             402          (d) Reunification services for an institutionalized parent are subject to the time
             403      limitations imposed in Subsections (2) through [(19)] (18), unless the court determines that
             404      continued reunification services would be in the minor's best interest.
             405          [(26)] (25) If, pursuant to Subsections [(21)] (20)(b) through (l), the court does not
             406      order reunification services, a permanency hearing shall be conducted within 30 days, in
             407      accordance with Section 78A-6-314 .




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-27-13 11:58 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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