S.B. 179 Enrolled

EXPEDITED APPEALS IN CHILD WELFARE
CASES
2004 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions relating to appeals from juvenile court cases.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
. creates an expedited process for appeals from juvenile court orders;
. requires the notice of appeal to be signed by appellant's counsel and appellant,
unless the appellant is a minor child or the state;
. provides that failure to timely sign a notice of appeal results in the dismissal of the
appeal;
. requires the attorney general to represent the state in all appeals under this chapter;
. requires the court to notify the parties in open court of the requirements regarding
filing an appeal;
. requires parties to an appeal to maintain regular contact with their counsel and keep
all other parties and the appellate court informed of their whereabouts;
. requires the court to inform the parties' counsel of their obligation to represent their
clients throughout the appellate process unless relieved of that obligation;
. repeals the minor and other parties' right to appeal if they were not represented by
counsel; and
. makes technical changes.
Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:

None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
78-3a-909, as enacted by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1996
78-3a-913, as last amended by Chapter 256, Laws of Utah 1999
78-45c-314, as enacted by Chapter 247, Laws of Utah 2000

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 78-3a-909 is amended to read:
78-3a-909. Appeals.
(1) An appeal to the Court of Appeals may be taken from any order, decree, or judgment
of the juvenile court. [The appeal shall be taken within 30 days from the entry of the order,
decree, or judgment appealed from. The attorney general shall represent the state in all appeals
under this chapter.]
(2) Appeals of right from juvenile court orders related to abuse, neglect, dependency,
termination, and adoption proceedings, shall be taken within 15 days from entry of the order,
decree, or judgment appealed from. In addition, the notice of appeal must be signed by appellant's
counsel, if any, and by appellant, unless the appellant is a minor child or state agency. If an
appellant fails to timely sign a notice of appeal, the appeal shall be dismissed.
(3) If the parties are present in the courtroom, the court shall inform them of:
(a) their right to appeal within the specified time limits;
(b) the need for their signature on a notice of appeal in appeals from juvenile court orders
related to abuse, neglect, dependency, termination, and adoption proceedings; and
(c) the need for parties to maintain regular contact with their counsel and to keep all other
parties and the appellate court informed of their whereabouts.
(4) If the parties are not present in the courtroom, the court shall mail a written statement
containing the information provided in Subsection (3) to the parties at their last known address.
(5) (a) The court shall inform the parties' counsel at the conclusion of the proceedings

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that, if an appeal is filed, they must represent their clients throughout the appellate process unless
relieved of that obligation by the juvenile court upon a showing of extraordinary circumstances.
(b) Until the petition on appeal is filed, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel do not
constitute extraordinary circumstances. If a claim is raised by trial counsel or a party, it must be
included in the petition on appeal.
(6) During the pendency of an appeal from juvenile court orders related to abuse, neglect,
dependency, termination, and adoption proceedings, parties shall maintain regular contact with
their counsel, if any, and keep all other parties and the appellate court informed of their
whereabouts.
(7) In all other appeals of right, the appeal shall be taken within 30 days from the entry of
the order, decree, or judgment appealed from and the notice of appeal must be signed by
appellant's counsel, if any, or by appellant. The attorney general shall represent the state in all
appeals under his chapter.
[(2)] (8) Unless the juvenile court stays its order, the pendency of an appeal does not stay
the order or decree appealed from in a minor's case, unless otherwise ordered by the Court of
Appeals, if suitable provision for the care and custody of the minor involved is made pending the
appeal.
[(3)] (9) The name of the minor may not appear on the record on appeal.
Section 2. Section 78-3a-913 is amended to read:
78-3a-913. Right to counsel -- Appointment of counsel for indigent -- Cost -- Court
hearing to determine compelling reason to appoint a noncontracting attorney -- Rate of
pay.
(1) (a) The parents, guardian, custodian, and the minor, if competent, shall be informed
that they have the right to be represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings. They have
the right to employ counsel of their own choice and if any of them requests an attorney and is
found by the court to be indigent, counsel shall be appointed by the court as provided in
Subsection (3). The court may appoint counsel without a request if it considers representation by
counsel necessary to protect the interest of the minor or of other parties.

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(b) The cost of appointed counsel for an indigent minor or other indigent party, including
the cost of counsel and expense of appeal, shall be paid by the county in which the hearing is held.
Counties may levy and collect taxes for these purposes.
(c) The court shall take into account the income and financial ability to retain counsel of
the parents or guardian of a minor in determining the indigency of the minor.
(2) If the state or county responsible to provide legal counsel for an indigent under
Subsection (1)(b) has arranged by contract to provide services, the court if it has received notice
or a copy of such contract shall appoint the contracting attorney as legal counsel to represent that
indigent.
(3) The court shall select and appoint the attorney or attorneys if:
(a) the contract for indigent legal services is with multiple attorneys; or
(b) the contract is with an additional attorney or attorneys in the event of a conflict of
interest.
(4) If the court considers the appointment of a noncontracting attorney to provide legal
services to an indigent despite the existence of an indigent legal services contract and the court
has a copy or notice of such contract, before the court may make the appointment, it shall:
(a) set the matter for a hearing;
(b) give proper notice to the attorney general or county attorney of the responsible county
of the hearing; and
(c) make findings that there is a compelling reason to appoint a noncontracting attorney
before it may make such appointment.
(5) The indigent's mere preference for other counsel shall not be considered a compelling
reason justifying the appointment of a noncontracting attorney.
(6) The court may order a minor, parent, guardian, or custodian for whom counsel is
appointed and the parents or guardian of any minor for whom counsel is appointed to reimburse
the county for the cost of appointed counsel.
[(7) If the minor and other parties were not represented by counsel, the court shall inform
them at the conclusion of the proceedings that they have the right to appeal.]

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Section 3. Section 78-45c-314 is amended to read:
78-45c-314. Appeals.
An appeal may be taken from [a final] an order in a proceeding under this chapter in
accordance with expedited appellate procedures in other civil cases. Unless the court enters a
temporary emergency order under Section 78-45c-204 , the enforcing court may not stay an order
enforcing a child custody determination pending appeal.

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