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H.B. 46 Enrolled

             1     

ADOPTION AND TERMINATION OF

             2     
PARENTAL RIGHTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Sheryl L. Allen

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Carlene M. Walker

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends provisions of the Utah Health Code, the Utah Criminal Code, and the
             11      Judicial Code, relating to adoption and the termination of parental rights.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    provides that a child-placing agency has a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest in
             16      the vital records of a child that has been placed with the agency pending finalization
             17      of an adoption;
             18          .    modifies and clarifies the definition of "adoption related expenses" that a person may
             19      pay or accept without committing the crime of "sale of a child";
             20          .    amends the offense of "sale of a child" to make it a third degree felony to offer to sell
             21      or dispose of a child, or to give, or attempt to give, money or another thing of value
             22      to a person with the intent to induce the person to sell or dispose of a child;
             23          .    makes incarceration for a felony a factor that a court must consider in determining
             24      whether a parent is unfit or has neglected a child, regardless of whether the child is
             25      in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services;
             26          .    modifies requirements relating to taking consents and relinquishments for adoption;
             27          .    clarifies which code provisions must be complied with in order for a court to waive
             28      the requirement that adoptive parents and the child to be adopted appear before the
             29      court prior to entry of a final decree of adoption;


             30          .    requires a child-placing agency and a petitioner for adoption to comply with the
             31      Indian Child Welfare Act in an adoption proceeding involving an "Indian child"; and
             32          .    makes technical changes.
             33      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             34          None
             35      Other Special Clauses:
             36          This bill coordinates with S.B. 111, Revisor's Statute, by providing technical
             37      amendments.
             38      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             39      AMENDS:
             40          26-2-22, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapters 55 and 56
             41          76-7-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 137
             42          78A-6-508, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             43          78B-6-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             44          78B-6-105, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             45          78B-6-107, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             46          78B-6-124, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             47          78B-6-128, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             48          78B-6-129, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             49          78B-6-134, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             50          78B-6-136, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             51          78B-6-143, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             52          78B-6-144, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             53     
             54      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             55          Section 1. Section 26-2-22 is amended to read:
             56           26-2-22. Inspection of vital records.
             57          (1) (a) The vital records shall be open to inspection, but only in compliance with the


             58      provisions of this chapter, department rules, and Section [ 78-30-18 ] 78B-6-144 .
             59          (b) It is unlawful for any state or local officer or employee to disclose data contained in
             60      vital records contrary to this chapter or department rule.
             61          (c) A custodian of vital records may permit inspection of a vital record or issue a
             62      certified copy of a record or a part of a record when the custodian is satisfied that the applicant
             63      has demonstrated a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest.
             64          (2) A direct, tangible, and legitimate interest in a vital record is present only if:
             65          (a) the request is from:
             66          (i) the subject[,];
             67          (ii) a member of the subject's immediate family[,];
             68          (iii) the guardian of the subject[, or];
             69          (iv) a designated legal representative of the subject; or
             70          (v) a person, including a child-placing agency as defined in Section 78B-6-103 , with
             71      whom a child has been placed pending finalization of an adoption of the child;
             72          (b) the request involves a personal or property right of the subject of the record;
             73          (c) the request is for official purposes of a state, local, or federal governmental agency;
             74          (d) the request is for a statistical or medical research program and prior consent has
             75      been obtained from the state registrar; or
             76          (e) the request is a certified copy of an order of a court of record specifying the record
             77      to be examined or copied.
             78          (3) For purposes of Subsection (2):
             79          (a) "immediate family member" means a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or
             80      grandchild;
             81          (b) a designated legal representative means an attorney, physician, funeral service
             82      director, genealogist, or other agent of the subject or the subject's immediate family who has
             83      been delegated the authority to access vital records;
             84          (c) except as provided in Title [78] 78B, Chapter [30,] 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act, a
             85      parent, or the immediate family member of a parent, who does not have legal or physical


             86      custody of or visitation or parent-time rights for a child because of the termination of parental
             87      rights pursuant to Title [78] 78A, Chapter [3a] 6, Juvenile Court Act of 1996, or by virtue of
             88      consenting to or relinquishing a child for adoption pursuant to Title [78] 78B, Chapter [30,] 6,
             89      Part 1, Utah Adoption Act, may not be considered as having a direct, tangible, and legitimate
             90      interest; and
             91          (d) a commercial firm or agency requesting names, addresses, or similar information
             92      may not be considered as having a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest.
             93          (4) Upon payment of a fee established in accordance with Section 63-38-3.2 , the
             94      following records shall be available to the public:
             95          (a) except as provided in Subsection 26-2-10 (4)(b), a birth record, excluding
             96      confidential information collected for medical and health use, if 100 years or more have passed
             97      since the date of birth;
             98          (b) a death record if 50 years or more have passed since the date of death; and
             99          (c) a vital record not subject to Subsection (4)(a) or (b) if 75 years or more have passed
             100      since the date of the event upon which the record is based.
             101          Section 2. Section 76-7-203 is amended to read:
             102           76-7-203. Sale of child -- Felony -- Payment of adoption related expenses.
             103          (1) For purposes of this section:
             104          (a) "[adoption] Adoption related expenses" means expenses that:
             105          (i) are reasonably related to the adoption of a child;
             106          (ii) are incurred for a reasonable amount; and
             107          (iii) may include expenses:
             108          (A) of the mother or father of the child being adopted, including:
             109          (I) legal expenses;
             110          (II) maternity expenses;
             111          (III) medical expenses;
             112          (IV) hospital expenses;
             113          (V) counseling expenses;


             114          (VI) temporary living expenses during the pregnancy or confinement of the mother; or
             115          (VII) expenses for travel between the mother's or father's home and the location where
             116      the child will be born or placed for adoption; [or]
             117          (B) of a directly affected person for:
             118          (I) travel between the directly affected person's home and the location where the child
             119      will be born or placed for adoption; or
             120          (II) temporary living expenses during the pregnancy or confinement of the mother;
             121      [and] or
             122          (C) other than those included in Subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A) or (B), that are not made for
             123      the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to:
             124          (I) place the child for adoption;
             125          (II) consent to an adoption; or
             126          (III) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.
             127          (b) "[directly] Directly affected person" means a person who is:
             128          (i) a parent or guardian of a minor when the minor is the mother or father of the child
             129      being adopted;
             130          (ii) a dependant of:
             131          (A) the mother or father of the child being adopted; or
             132          (B) the parent or guardian described in Subsection (1)(b)(i); or
             133          (iii) the spouse of the mother or father of the child being adopted.
             134          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of a third degree felony if
             135      the person[,]:
             136          (a) while having custody, care, control, or possession of a child, sells, or disposes of the
             137      child, or attempts or offers to sell or dispose of[,] the child, for and in consideration of the
             138      payment of money or [other] another thing of value[.]; or
             139          (b) offers, gives, or attempts to give money or another thing of value to a person, with
             140      the intent to induce or encourage a person to violate Subsection (2)(a).
             141          (3) A person does not violate this section by paying or receiving payment for adoption


             142      related expenses, if:
             143          (a) the expenses are paid as an act of charity; and
             144          (b) [if] the payment is not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal
             145      guardian of a child to:
             146          (i) place the child for adoption;
             147          (ii) consent to an adoption; or
             148          (iii) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.
             149          Section 3. Section 78A-6-508 is amended to read:
             150           78A-6-508. Evidence of grounds for termination.
             151          (1) In determining whether a parent or parents have abandoned a child, it is prima facie
             152      evidence of abandonment that the parent or parents:
             153          (a) although having legal custody of the child, have surrendered physical custody of the
             154      child, and for a period of six months following the surrender have not manifested to the child or
             155      to the person having the physical custody of the child a firm intention to resume physical
             156      custody or to make arrangements for the care of the child;
             157          (b) have failed to communicate with the child by mail, telephone, or otherwise for six
             158      months;
             159          (c) failed to have shown the normal interest of a natural parent, without just cause; or
             160          (d) have abandoned an infant, as described in Subsection 78A-6-316 (1).
             161          (2) In determining whether a parent or parents are unfit or have neglected a child the
             162      court shall consider, but is not limited to, the following circumstances, conduct, or conditions:
             163          (a) emotional illness, mental illness, or mental deficiency of the parent that renders the
             164      parent unable to care for the immediate and continuing physical or emotional needs of the child
             165      for extended periods of time;
             166          (b) conduct toward a child of a physically, emotionally, or sexually cruel or abusive
             167      nature;
             168          (c) habitual or excessive use of intoxicating liquors, controlled substances, or dangerous
             169      drugs that render the parent unable to care for the child;


             170          (d) repeated or continuous failure to provide the child with adequate food, clothing,
             171      shelter, education, or other care necessary for the child's physical, mental, and emotional health
             172      and development by a parent or parents who are capable of providing that care;
             173          (e) [with regard to a child who is in the custody of the division, if] whether the parent is
             174      incarcerated as a result of conviction of a felony, and the sentence is of such length that the
             175      child will be deprived of a normal home for more than one year; or
             176          (f) a history of violent behavior.
             177          (3) A parent who, legitimately practicing the parent's religious beliefs, does not provide
             178      specified medical treatment for a child is not, for that reason alone, a negligent or unfit parent.
             179          (4) (a) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), a parent may not be considered neglectful or
             180      unfit because of a health care decision made for a child by the child's parent unless the state or
             181      other party to the proceeding shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that the health care
             182      decision is not reasonable and informed.
             183          (b) Nothing in Subsection (4)(a) may prohibit a parent from exercising the right to
             184      obtain a second health care opinion.
             185          (5) If a child has been placed in the custody of the division and the parent or parents fail
             186      to comply substantially with the terms and conditions of a plan within six months after the date
             187      on which the child was placed or the plan was commenced, whichever occurs later, that failure
             188      to comply is evidence of failure of parental adjustment.
             189          (6) The following circumstances constitute prima facie evidence of unfitness:
             190          (a) sexual abuse, injury, or death of a sibling of the child, or of any child, due to known
             191      or substantiated abuse or neglect by the parent or parents;
             192          (b) conviction of a crime, if the facts surrounding the crime are of such a nature as to
             193      indicate the unfitness of the parent to provide adequate care to the extent necessary for the
             194      child's physical, mental, or emotional health and development;
             195          (c) a single incident of life-threatening or gravely disabling injury to or disfigurement of
             196      the child; or
             197          (d) the parent has committed, aided, abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to


             198      commit murder or manslaughter of a child or child abuse homicide.
             199          Section 4. Section 78B-6-103 is amended to read:
             200           78B-6-103. Definitions.
             201          As used in this part:
             202          (1) "Adoptee" means a person who has been legally adopted.
             203          (2) "Adoption" means the judicial act which creates the relationship of parent and child
             204      where it did not previously exist and which permanently deprives a birth parent of parental
             205      rights.
             206          (3) "Adoption service provider" means a:
             207          (a) child-placing agency; or
             208          (b) licensed counselor who has at least one year of experience providing professional
             209      social work services to:
             210          (i) adoptive parents; or
             211          (ii) birth parents.
             212          (4) "Adult adoptee" means an adoptee who is 21 years of age or older.
             213          (5) "Adult sibling" means a brother or sister of the adoptee, who is 21 years of age or
             214      older and whose birth mother or father is the same as that of the adoptee.
             215          (6) "Birth parent" means a biological mother, a person whose paternity of a child is
             216      established, or an alleged father, who has been identified as the father of a child by the child's
             217      birth mother, and who has not denied paternity.
             218          (7) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Vital Statistics within the Department of Health
             219      operating under Title 26, Chapter 2, Utah Vital Statistics Act.
             220          (8) "Child-placing agency" means an agency licensed to place children for adoption
             221      under Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 6, Child Placing.
             222          (9) "Cohabiting" means residing with another person and being involved in a sexual
             223      relationship with that person.
             224          (10) "Division" means the Division of Child and Family Services, within the Department
             225      of Human Services, created in Section 62A-4a-103 .


             226          (11) "Extra-jurisdictional child-placing agency" means an agency licensed to place
             227      children for adoption by a district, territory, or state of the United States, other than Utah.
             228          [(11)] (12) "Genetic and social history" means a comprehensive report, when
             229      obtainable, on an adoptee's birth parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, which contains the
             230      following information:
             231          (a) medical history;
             232          (b) health status;
             233          (c) cause of and age at death;
             234          (d) height, weight, and eye and hair color;
             235          (e) ethnic origins;
             236          (f) where appropriate, levels of education and professional achievement; and
             237          (g) religion, if any.
             238          [(12)] (13) "Health history" means a comprehensive report of the adoptee's health
             239      status at the time of placement for adoption, and medical history, including neonatal,
             240      psychological, physiological, and medical care history.
             241          [(13)] (14) "Identifying information" means the name and address of a birth parent or
             242      adult adoptee, or other specific information which by itself or in reasonable conjunction with
             243      other information may be used to identify that person.
             244          [(14)] (15) "Licensed counselor" means a person who is licensed by the state, or
             245      another state, district, or territory of the United States as a:
             246          (a) certified social worker;
             247          (b) clinical social worker;
             248          (c) psychologist;
             249          (d) marriage and family therapist;
             250          (e) professional counselor; or
             251          (f) an equivalent licensed professional of another state, district, or territory of the
             252      United States.
             253          [(15)] (16) "Parent," for purposes of Section 78B-6-119 , means any person described in


             254      Subsections 78B-6-120 (1)(b) through (f) from whom consent for adoption or relinquishment
             255      for adoption is required under Sections 78B-6-120 through 78B-6-122 .
             256          [(16)] (17) "Unmarried biological father" means a person who:
             257          (a) is the biological father of a child; and
             258          (b) was not married to the biological mother of the child described in Subsection [(16)]
             259      (17)(a) at the time of the child's:
             260          (i) conception; or
             261          (ii) birth.
             262          Section 5. Section 78B-6-105 is amended to read:
             263           78B-6-105. District court venue -- Jurisdiction of juvenile court -- Jurisdiction
             264      over nonresidents -- Time for filing.
             265          (1) Adoption proceedings shall be commenced by filing a petition with the clerk of the
             266      district court either:
             267          (a) in the district where the person adopting resides, or if the person adopting is not a
             268      resident of this state, in the district where the child was born or in which the child-placing
             269      agency that has custody of the child is located; or
             270          (b) with the juvenile court as provided in Subsection 78A-6-103 (1).
             271          (2) All orders, decrees, agreements, and notices in the proceedings shall be filed with
             272      the clerk of the court where the adoption proceedings were commenced under Subsection (1).
             273          (3) A petition for adoption shall be filed within 30 days of the date the adoptee is placed
             274      in the home of the petitioners for the purpose of adoption, unless:
             275          (a) the time for filing has been extended by the court; or
             276          (b) the adoption is arranged by a [licensed] child-placing agency in which case the
             277      agency may extend the filing time.
             278          (4) (a) If a person whose consent for the adoption is required under Section 78B-6-120
             279      or 78B-6-121 cannot be found within the state, the fact of the minor's presence within the state
             280      shall confer jurisdiction on the court in proceedings under this chapter as to such absent person,
             281      provided that due notice has been given in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.


             282          (b) The notice may not include the name of:
             283          (i) the person or persons seeking to adopt the adoptee; or
             284          (ii) an unmarried mother without her consent.
             285          (5) Service of notice as provided in Subsection (6) shall vest the court with jurisdiction
             286      over the person served in the same manner and to the same extent as if the person served was
             287      served personally within the state.
             288          (6) In the case of service outside the state, service completed not less than five days
             289      before the time set in the notice for appearance of the person served, shall be sufficient to confer
             290      jurisdiction.
             291          (7) Computation of periods of time not otherwise set forth in this section shall be made
             292      in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
             293          Section 6. Section 78B-6-107 is amended to read:
             294           78B-6-107. Compliance with the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children --
             295      Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
             296          (1) In any adoption proceeding the petition for adoption shall state whether the child
             297      was born in another state and, if so, both the petition and the court's final decree of adoption
             298      shall state that the requirements of Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 7, Interstate Compact on
             299      Placement of Children, have been complied with.
             300          (2) In any adoption proceeding involving an "Indian child," as defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec.
             301      1903, a child-placing agency and the petitioners shall comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act,
             302      Title 25, Chapter 21, of the United States Code.
             303          Section 7. Section 78B-6-124 is amended to read:
             304           78B-6-124. Persons who may take consents and relinquishments.
             305          (1) A consent or relinquishment by a birth mother or an adoptee shall be signed before:
             306          (a) a judge of any court that has jurisdiction over adoption proceedings[, or];
             307          (b) subject to Subsection (6), a person appointed by [that] the judge [for the purpose of
             308      taking] described in Subsection (1)(a) to take consents or relinquishments; or
             309          [(b)] (c) subject to Subsection (6), a person who is authorized by a [licensed]


             310      child-placing agency to take consents or relinquishments [so long as the signature is notarized
             311      or witnessed by two individuals who are not members of the birth mother's immediate family], if
             312      the consent or relinquishment grants legal custody of the child to a child-placing agency or an
             313      extra-jurisdictional child-placing agency.
             314          (2) If the consent or relinquishment of a birth mother or adoptee is taken out of state it
             315      shall be signed before:
             316          (a) subject to Subsection (6), a person who is authorized by a child-placing agency to
             317      take consents or relinquishments, if the consent or relinquishment grants legal custody of the
             318      child to a child-placing agency or an extra-jurisdictional child-placing agency;
             319          (b) subject to Subsection (6), a person authorized or appointed to take consents or
             320      relinquishments by a court of this state that has jurisdiction over adoption proceedings;
             321          (c) a court that has jurisdiction over adoption proceedings in the state where the
             322      consent or relinquishment is taken; or
             323          (d) a person authorized, under the laws of the state where the consent or relinquishment
             324      is taken, to take consents or relinquishments of a birth mother or adoptee.
             325          (3) The consent or relinquishment of any other person or agency as required by Section
             326      78B-6-120 may be signed before a Notary Public or any person authorized to take a consent or
             327      relinquishment under Subsection (1) or (2).
             328          (4) A person, authorized by Subsection (1) or (2) to take consents or relinquishments,
             329      shall certify to the best of his information and belief that the person executing the consent or
             330      relinquishment has read and understands the consent or relinquishment and has signed it freely
             331      and voluntarily.
             332          (5) A person executing a consent or relinquishment is entitled to receive a copy of the
             333      consent or relinquishment.
             334          (6) A signature described in Subsection (1)(b), (1)(c), (2)(a), or (2)(b), shall be:
             335          (a) notarized; or
             336          (b) witnessed by two individuals who are not members of the birth mother's or the
             337      signatory's immediate family.


             338          Section 8. Section 78B-6-128 is amended to read:
             339           78B-6-128. Preplacement adoptive evaluations -- Exceptions.
             340          (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a child may not be placed in an
             341      adoptive home until a preplacement adoptive evaluation, assessing the prospective adoptive
             342      parent and the prospective adoptive home, has been conducted in accordance with the
             343      requirements of this section.
             344          (b) Except as provided in Section 78B-6-131 , the court may, at any time, authorize
             345      temporary placement of a child in a potential adoptive home pending completion of a
             346      preplacement adoptive evaluation described in this section.
             347          (c) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply if a birth parent has legal custody of the child to be
             348      adopted and the prospective adoptive parent is related to that child as a step-parent, sibling by
             349      half or whole blood or by adoption, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin, unless the
             350      evaluation is otherwise requested by the court. The prospective adoptive parent described in
             351      this Subsection (1)(c) shall, however, obtain the information described in Subsections (2)(a) and
             352      (b), and file that documentation with the court prior to finalization of the adoption.
             353          (d) The required preplacement adoptive evaluation must be completed or updated
             354      within the 12-month period immediately preceding the placement of a child with the prospective
             355      adoptive parent. If the prospective adoptive parent has previously received custody of a child
             356      for the purpose of adoption, the preplacement adoptive evaluation must be completed or
             357      updated within the 12-month period immediately preceding the placement of a child with the
             358      prospective adoptive parent and after the placement of the previous child with the prospective
             359      adoptive parent.
             360          (2) The preplacement adoptive evaluation shall include:
             361          (a) criminal history record information regarding each prospective adoptive parent and
             362      any other adult living in the prospective home, prepared by a law enforcement agency based on
             363      a fingerprint criminal history check, no earlier than 18 months immediately preceding placement
             364      of the child;
             365          (b) a report prepared by the Department of Human Services containing all information


             366      regarding reports and investigation of child abuse, neglect, and dependency, with respect to
             367      each prospective adoptive parent and any other adult living in the prospective home, obtained
             368      no earlier than 18 months immediately preceding placement of the child, pursuant to waivers
             369      executed by those parties;
             370          (c) an evaluation conducted by an expert in family relations approved by the court or a
             371      certified social worker, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist,
             372      professional counselor, or other court-determined expert in family relations, who is licensed to
             373      practice under the laws of this state or under the laws of the state where the prospective
             374      adoptive parent or other person living in the prospective adoptive home resides. The evaluation
             375      shall be in a form approved by the Department of Human Services. Neither the Department of
             376      Human Services nor any of its divisions may proscribe who qualifies as an expert in family
             377      relations or who may conduct evaluations pursuant to this Subsection (2); and
             378          (d) if the child to be adopted is a child who is in the custody of any public child welfare
             379      agency, and is a child [with] who has a special [needs] need as defined in [Subsection] Section
             380      62A-4a-902 [(2)], the preplacement evaluation must be conducted by the Department of Human
             381      Services or a [licensed] child-placing agency which has entered into a contract with the
             382      department to conduct the preplacement evaluations for children with special needs. Any fee
             383      assessed by the evaluating agency is the responsibility of the adopting parent or parents.
             384          (3) The person or agency conducting the preplacement adoptive evaluation shall, in
             385      connection with the evaluation, provide the prospective adoptive parent or parents with
             386      literature approved by the Division of Child and Family Services relating to adoption, and
             387      including information relating to the adoption process, developmental issues that may require
             388      early intervention, and community resources that are available to the adoptive parent or parents.
             389          (4) A copy of the preplacement adoptive evaluation shall be filed with the court.
             390          Section 9. Section 78B-6-129 is amended to read:
             391           78B-6-129. Postplacement adoptive evaluations.
             392          (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), a postplacement evaluation shall be
             393      conducted and submitted to the court prior to the final hearing in an adoption proceeding. The


             394      postplacement evaluation shall include:
             395          (a) verification of the allegations of fact contained in the petition for adoption;
             396          (b) an evaluation of the progress of the child's placement in the adoptive home; and
             397          (c) a recommendation regarding whether the adoption is in the best interest of the child.
             398          (2) The exemptions from and requirements for evaluations, described in Subsections
             399      78B-6-128 (1)(c), (2)(c), and (3), also apply to postplacement adoptive evaluations.
             400          (3) Upon the request of the petitioner, the court may waive the postplacement adoptive
             401      evaluation, unless it determines that it is in the best interest of the child to require the
             402      postplacement evaluation. Except where the child to be adopted and the prospective parent are
             403      related as set forth in Subsection 78B-6-128 (1)(c), the court may waive the postplacement
             404      adoptive evaluation for a child [with] who has a special [needs] need as defined in Section
             405      62A-4a-902 .
             406          Section 10. Section 78B-6-134 is amended to read:
             407           78B-6-134. Custody pending final decree.
             408          (1) Except as otherwise provided by the court, once a petitioner has received the
             409      adoptee into his home and a petition for adoption has been filed, the petitioner is entitled to the
             410      custody and control of the adoptee and is responsible for the care, maintenance, and support of
             411      the adoptee, including any necessary medical or surgical treatment, pending further order of the
             412      court.
             413          (2) Once a child has been placed with, relinquished to, or ordered into the custody of a
             414      [licensed] child-placing agency for purposes of adoption, the agency shall have custody and
             415      control of the child and is responsible for his care, maintenance, and support. The agency may
             416      delegate the responsibility for care, maintenance, and support, including any necessary medical
             417      or surgical treatment, to the petitioner once the petitioner has received the child into his home.
             418      However, until the final decree of adoption is entered by the court, the agency has the right to
             419      the custody and control of the child.
             420          Section 11. Section 78B-6-136 is amended to read:
             421           78B-6-136. Final decree of adoption -- Agreement by adoptive parent or parents.


             422          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), before the court enters a final decree of
             423      adoption:
             424          (a) the adoptive parent or parents and the child being adopted shall appear before the
             425      appropriate court[,]; and [an agreement shall be executed by]
             426          (b) the adoptive parent or parents shall execute an agreement stating that the child shall
             427      be adopted and treated in all respects as [his] the parent's or parents' own lawful child.
             428          (2) Except as provided in Subsection 78B-6-115 (4), a court may waive the requirement
             429      [that the adoptive parent or parents and the child being adopted appear before the court]
             430      described in Subsection (1)(a) if:
             431          (a) the adoption is not contested; [and]
             432          (b) the adoptive parent or parents:
             433          (i) execute an agreement stating that the child shall be adopted and treated in all
             434      respects as the parent's or parents' own lawful child;
             435          (ii) have the agreement described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) notarized; and
             436          (iii) file the agreement described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) with the court; and
             437          [(b)] (c) all requirements of this chapter to obtain a final decree of adoption are
             438      otherwise complied with.
             439          Section 12. Section 78B-6-143 is amended to read:
             440           78B-6-143. Nonidentifying health history of adoptee filed with bureau -- Limited
             441      availability.
             442          (1) Upon finalization of an adoption in this state, the person who proceeded on behalf
             443      of the petitioner for adoption, or a [licensed] child-placing agency if an agency is involved in the
             444      adoption, shall file a report with the bureau, in the form established by the bureau. That report
             445      shall include a detailed health history, and a genetic and social history of the adoptee.
             446          (2) The report filed under Subsection (1) may not contain any information which
             447      identifies the adoptee's birth parents or members of their families.
             448          (3) When the report described in Subsection (1) is filed, a duplicate report shall be
             449      provided to the adoptive parents.


             450          (4) The report filed with the bureau under Subsection (1) shall only be available upon
             451      request, and upon presentation of positive identification, to the following persons:
             452          (a) the adoptive parents;
             453          (b) in the event of the death of the adoptive parents, the adoptee's legal guardian;
             454          (c) the adoptee;
             455          (d) in the event of the death of the adoptee, the adoptee's spouse, if the spouse is the
             456      parent or guardian of the adoptee's child;
             457          (e) the adoptee's child or descendant;
             458          (f) the adoptee's birth parent; and
             459          (g) the adoptee's adult sibling.
             460          (5) No information which identifies a birth parent or his family may be disclosed under
             461      this section.
             462          (6) The actual cost of providing information under this section shall be paid by the
             463      person requesting the information.
             464          Section 13. Section 78B-6-144 is amended to read:
             465           78B-6-144. Mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry -- Procedures -- Fees.
             466          (1) The bureau shall establish a mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry.
             467          (a) Adult adoptees and birth parents of adult adoptees, upon presentation of positive
             468      identification, may request identifying information from the bureau, in the form established by
             469      the bureau. A court of competent jurisdiction or a child-placing agency [licensed under Title
             470      62A, Chapter 4a, Part 6,] may accept that request from the adult adoptee or birth parent, in the
             471      form provided by the bureau, and transfer that request to the bureau. The adult adoptee or birth
             472      parent is responsible for notifying the bureau of any change in information contained in the
             473      request.
             474          (b) The bureau may only release identifying information to an adult adoptee or birth
             475      parent when it receives requests from both the adoptee and his birth parent.
             476          (c) After matching the request of an adult adoptee with that of at least one of his birth
             477      parents, the bureau shall notify both the adoptee and the birth parent that the requests have been


             478      matched, and disclose the identifying information to those parties. However, if that adult
             479      adoptee has a sibling of the same birth parent who is under the age of 21 years, and who was
             480      raised in the same family setting as the adult adoptee, the bureau shall not disclose the requested
             481      identifying information to that adult adoptee or his birth parent.
             482          (2) (a) Adult adoptees and adult siblings of adult adoptees, upon presentation of
             483      positive identification, may request identifying information from the bureau, in the form
             484      established by the bureau. A court of competent jurisdiction or a child-placing agency [licensed
             485      under Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 6,] may accept that request from the adult adoptee or adult
             486      sibling, in the form provided by the bureau, and transfer that request to the bureau. The adult
             487      adoptee or adult sibling is responsible for notifying the bureau of any change in information
             488      contained in the request.
             489          (b) The bureau may only release identifying information to an adult adoptee or adult
             490      sibling when it receives requests from both the adoptee and his adult sibling.
             491          (c) After matching the request of an adult adoptee with that of his adult sibling, if the
             492      bureau has been provided with sufficient information to make that match, the bureau shall notify
             493      both the adoptee and the adult sibling that the requests have been matched, and disclose the
             494      identifying information to those parties.
             495          (3) Information registered with the bureau under this section is available only to a
             496      registered adult adoptee and his registered birth parent or registered adult sibling, under the
             497      terms of this section.
             498          (4) Information regarding a birth parent who has not registered a request with the
             499      bureau may not be disclosed.
             500          (5) The bureau may charge a fee for services provided under this section, limited to the
             501      cost of providing those services.
             502          Section 14. Coordinating H.B. 46 with S.B. 111 -- Technical amendments.
             503          If this H.B. 46 and S.B. 111, Revisor's Statute, both pass, it is the intent of the
             504      Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall prepare the Utah
             505      Code database for publication by amending Subsection 78B-6-136 (1) to read as follows:


             506          "(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), before a court enters a final decree of
             507      adoption:
             508          (a) the adoptive parent or parents and the child being adopted shall appear before the
             509      appropriate court[,]; and [an agreement shall be executed by]
             510          (b) the adoptive parent or parents shall execute an agreement stating that the child shall
             511      be adopted and treated in all respects as [his] the parent's or parents' own lawful child."


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