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First Substitute H.B. 192
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6 AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES; MODIFYING THE DUTIES OF PRIVATE
7 CHILD PLACING AGENCIES TO INFORM POTENTIAL ADOPTIVE PARENTS ABOUT
8 CHILDREN IN STATE CUSTODY WHO ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION; REQUIRING
9 THE DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES TO PREPARE A PAMPHLET FOR
10 DISTRIBUTION TO POTENTIAL ADOPTIVE PARENTS THROUGH PRIVATE CHILD
11 PLACING AGENCIES; AND MAKING CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
12 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
13 AMENDS:
14 62A-4a-205.6, as last amended by Chapter 274, Laws of Utah 1998
15 62A-4a-607, as last amended by Chapters 195 and 329, Laws of Utah 1997
16 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
17 Section 1. Section 62A-4a-205.6 is amended to read:
18 62A-4a-205.6. Adoptive placement time frame -- Contracting with agencies.
19 (1) With regard to [
20 adoption or for whom a final plan for pursuing termination of parental rights has been approved
21 in accordance with Section 78-3a-312 , the division shall make intensive efforts to place the child
22 in an adoptive home within 30 days [
23 (a) approval of the final plan; or
24 (b) establishment of the primary permanency goal.
25 (2) If within the time [
26 to locate a suitable adoptive home, it shall contract with licensed child placing agencies to search
27 for an appropriate adoptive home for the child, and to place the child for adoption. The division
28 shall comply with the requirements of Section 62A-4a-607 and contract with a variety of child
29 placing agencies licensed under Part 6. In accordance with federal law, the division shall develop
30 plans for the effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources to facilitate timely adoptive or
31 permanent placements for waiting children.
32 (3) The division shall ensure that children who are adopted and were previously in its
33 custody, continue to receive the medical and mental health coverage that they are entitled to under
34 state and federal law.
35 Section 2. Section 62A-4a-607 is amended to read:
36 62A-4a-607. Promotion of adoption -- Agency notice potential adoptive parents.
37 (1) The division and all child placing agencies licensed under this part shall promote
38 adoption when that is a possible and appropriate alternative for a child. Specifically, in accordance
39 with Section 62A-4a-205.6 , the division shall actively promote the adoption of all children in its
40 custody who have a final plan for termination of parental rights pursuant to Section 78-3a-312 [
41 or a primary permanency goal of adoption.
42 (2) The division shall obtain or conduct research of prior adoptive families to determine
43 what families may do to be successful with their adoptive children and shall make this research
44 available to potential adoptive parents.
45 (3) (a) [
46 shall [
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48 (i) children in the custody of the [
49 available for adoption [
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51 (ii) Medicaid coverage for medical, dental, and mental health [
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53 (iii) tax benefits and financial assistance may be available to defray the costs of adopting
54 these children;
55 (iv) training [
56 available to the adoptive parents [
57 these children; and
58 (v) information [
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62 about individual children may be obtained by contacting the division's offices or its Internet site
63 as explained by the child placing agency.
64 (b) A child placing agency shall:
65 (i) provide the notice required by Subsection (3)(a) at the earliest possible opportunity; and
66 (ii) simultaneously distribute a copy of the pamphlet prepared by the division in
67 accordance with Subsection (3)(d).
68 (c) As a condition of licensure, the child placing agency shall certify to the Office of
69 Licensing at the time of license renewal that it has complied with the provisions of this section.
70 (d) Before July 1, 2000, the division shall:
71 (i) prepare a pamphlet that explains the information that is required by Subsection (3)(a);
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73 (ii) regularly distribute copies of the pamphlet described in Subsection (3)(d)(i) to child
74 placing agencies.
75 (e) The division shall [
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79 (3)(a).
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