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S.B. 104

             1     

SELECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH

             2     
THERAPIST IN TERMINATION OF

             3     
PARENTAL RIGHTS

             4     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Sponsor: Parley G. Hellewell

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the Termination of Parental Rights Act.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    specifies that the juvenile court may not refuse to appoint a mental health therapist
             14      because the therapist has not followed the recommendations of the guardian ad
             15      litem in another case; and
             16          .    requires the juvenile court to afford the parent or guardian the opportunity to be
             17      heard regarding the selection of a mental health therapist.
             18      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          78-3a-415, as last amended by Chapter 187, Laws of Utah 2003
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 78-3a-415 is amended to read:


             28           78-3a-415. Mental health therapist.
             29          (1) When a mental health practitioner is to be appointed in a parental rights action to
             30      evaluate the mental health of a parent or a minor, or to provide mental health services to a
             31      parent or a minor, the court:
             32          (a) may appoint any mental health therapist, as defined in Section 58-60-102 , which the
             33      court finds to be qualified; [and]
             34          (b) may not refuse to appoint a mental health therapist for the reason that the therapist's
             35      recommendations in another case have not followed the recommendations of the Division of
             36      Child and Family Services[.] or the Office of the Guardian Ad Litem; and
             37          (c) shall give strong consideration to the parent's or guardian's wishes regarding the
             38      selection of a mental health therapist.
             39          (2) This section applies to all juvenile court proceedings involving:
             40          (a) parents and minor children; or
             41          (b) the Division of Child and Family Services.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-1-03 12:26 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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