1     
HOMELESS YOUTH PROTECTION AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Elizabeth Weight

5     
Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

6     Cosponsor:
7     Steve Waldrip


8     

9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This bill modifies provisions related to shelter, care, and services for homeless youth.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     clarifies that a person who provides shelter, care, or services to certain homeless
15     youth may refer the homeless youth to temporary or permanent housing; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          62A-4a-502, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 242
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 62A-4a-502 is amended to read:
27          62A-4a-502. Consent to shelter, care, or services by a homeless youth.
28          (1) As used in this section:

29          (a) "Care" means providing:
30          (i) assistance to obtain food, clothing, hygiene products, or other basic necessities;
31          (ii) access to a bed, showering facility, or transportation; or
32          (iii) assistance with school enrollment or attendance.
33          (b) "Homeless youth" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-501.
34          (c) "Licensed services" means a service provided by a temporary homeless youth
35     shelter, a youth services center, or other facility that is licensed to provide the service to a
36     homeless youth.
37          (d) "Service" means:
38          (i) youth services, as defined in Section 62A-7-101;
39          (ii) child welfare or juvenile court case management or advocacy;
40          (iii) aftercare services, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 1351.1; or
41          (iv) independent living skills training.
42          (e) "Temporary homeless youth shelter" means the same as that term is defined in
43     Section 62A-4a-501.
44          (f) "Youth services center" means the same as that term is defined in Section
45     62A-4a-501.
46          (2) A homeless youth may consent to temporary shelter, care, or licensed services if the
47     homeless youth:
48          (a) is at least 15 years old; and
49          (b) manages the homeless youth's own financial affairs, regardless of the source of
50     income.
51          (3) In determining consent under Subsection (2), a person may rely on the homeless
52     youth's verbal or written statement describing the homeless youth's ability to consent to
53     temporary shelter, care, or licensed services.
54          (4) A person who provides shelter, care, or licensed services to a homeless youth who
55     consents to the shelter, care, or licensed services under Subsection (2):
56          (a) shall report to the division as required under Section 62A-4a-403 and Subsection

57     62A-4a-501(4); and
58          (b) may provide the homeless youth a referral to [safe] temporary or permanent
59     housing, employment [services] resources, medical or dental [care] providers, or counseling.