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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions regarding marriage and legitimacy.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ amends language regarding marriage and legitimacy; and
13 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
14 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15 None
16 Other Special Clauses:
17 None
18 Utah Code Sections Affected:
19 AMENDS:
20 30-1-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 317
21 30-1-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 317
22 76-7-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 84
23 80-1-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 2
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 30-1-1 is amended to read:
27 30-1-1. Incestuous marriages void.
28 (1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, [
29
30 recognized:
31 (a) marriages between parents and children;
32 (b) marriages between ancestors and descendants of every degree;
33 (c) marriages between siblings of the half as well as the whole blood;
34 (d) marriages between:
35 (i) uncles and nieces or nephews; or
36 (ii) aunts and nieces or nephews;
37 (e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2); or
38 (f) marriages between any individuals related to each other within and not including the
39 fifth degree of consanguinity computed according to the rules of the civil law, except as
40 provided in Subsection (2).
41 (2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances:
42 (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or
43 (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court,
44 located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.
45 Section 2. Section 30-1-3 is amended to read:
46 30-1-3. Marriage in belief of death or divorce of former spouse -- Legal
47 recognition of a child.
48 When a marriage is contracted in good faith and in the belief of the parties that a former
49 spouse, [
50
51
52 shall be legally recognized as the child of both parties.
53 Section 3. Section 76-7-102 is amended to read:
54 76-7-102. Incest -- Definitions -- Penalty.
55 (1) As used in this section:
56 (a) "Provider" means a person who provides or makes available his seminal fluid or her
57 human egg.
58 (b) "Related person" means a person related to the provider or actor as an ancestor,
59 descendant, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or first cousin, and includes:
60 (i) blood relationships of the whole or half blood [
61 regardless of whether the relationship is legally recognized;
62 (ii) the relationship of parent and child by adoption; and
63 (iii) the relationship of stepparent and stepchild while the marriage creating the
64 relationship of a stepparent and stepchild exists.
65 (2) (a) An actor is guilty of incest when, under circumstances not amounting to rape,
66 rape of a child, or aggravated sexual assault, the actor knowingly and intentionally:
67 (i) engages in conduct under Subsection (2)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv); or
68 (ii) provides a human egg or seminal fluid under Subsection (2)(b)(v).
69 (b) Conduct referred to under Subsection (2)(a) is:
70 (i) sexual intercourse between the actor and a person the actor knows has kinship to the
71 actor as a related person;
72 (ii) the insertion or placement of the provider's seminal fluid into the vagina, cervix, or
73 uterus of a related person by means other than sexual intercourse;
74 (iii) providing or making available his seminal fluid for the purpose of insertion or
75 placement of the fluid into the vagina, cervix, or uterus of a related person by means other than
76 sexual intercourse;
77 (iv) a woman 18 years of age or older who:
78 (A) knowingly allows the insertion of the seminal fluid of a provider into her vagina,
79 cervix, or uterus by means other than sexual intercourse; and
80 (B) knows that the seminal fluid is that of a person with whom she has kinship as a
81 related person; or
82 (v) providing the actor's sperm or human egg that is used to conduct in vitro
83 fertilization, or any other means of fertilization, with the human egg or sperm of a person who
84 is a related person.
85 (c) This Subsection (2) does not prohibit providing a fertilized human egg if the
86 provider of the fertilizing sperm is not a related person regarding the person providing the egg.
87 (3) Incest is a third degree felony.
88 (4) A provider under this section is not a donor under Section 78B-15-702.
89 Section 4. Section 80-1-102 is amended to read:
90 80-1-102. Juvenile code definitions.
91 As used in this title:
92 (1) (a) "Abuse" means:
93 (i) (A) nonaccidental harm of a child;
94 (B) threatened harm of a child;
95 (C) sexual exploitation;
96 (D) sexual abuse; or
97 (E) human trafficking of a child in violation of Section 76-5-308.5; or
98 (ii) that a child's natural parent:
99 (A) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes the death of another parent of the
100 child;
101 (B) is identified by a law enforcement agency as the primary suspect in an investigation
102 for intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing the death of another parent of the child; or
103 (C) is being prosecuted for or has been convicted of intentionally, knowingly, or
104 recklessly causing the death of another parent of the child.
105 (b) "Abuse" does not include:
106 (i) reasonable discipline or management of a child, including withholding privileges;
107 (ii) conduct described in Section 76-2-401; or
108 (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary physical restraint or force on a child:
109 (A) in self-defense;
110 (B) in defense of others;
111 (C) to protect the child; or
112 (D) to remove a weapon in the possession of a child for any of the reasons described in
113 Subsections (1)(b)(iii)(A) through (C).
114 (2) "Abused child" means a child who has been subjected to abuse.
115 (3) (a) "Adjudication" means a finding by the court, incorporated in a decree, that the
116 facts alleged in the petition have been proved.
117 (b) "Adjudication" does not mean a finding of not competent to proceed in accordance
118 with Section 80-6-402.
119 (4) (a) "Adult" means an individual who is 18 years old or older.
120 (b) "Adult" does not include an individual:
121 (i) who is 18 years old or older; and
122 (ii) who is a minor.
123 (5) "Attorney guardian ad litem" means the same as that term is defined in Section
124 78A-2-801.
125 (6) "Board" means the Board of Juvenile Court Judges.
126 (7) "Child" means an individual who is under 18 years old.
127 (8) "Child and family plan" means a written agreement between a child's parents or
128 guardian and the Division of Child and Family Services as described in Section 62A-4a-205.
129 (9) "Child placement agency" means:
130 (a) a private agency licensed to receive a child for placement or adoption under this
131 code; or
132 (b) a private agency that receives a child for placement or adoption in another state,
133 which is licensed or approved where such license or approval is required by law.
134 (10) "Clandestine laboratory operation" means the same as that term is defined in
135 Section 58-37d-3.
136 (11) "Commit" or "committed" means, unless specified otherwise:
137 (a) with respect to a child, to transfer legal custody; and
138 (b) with respect to a minor who is at least 18 years old, to transfer custody.
139 (12) "Community-based program" means a nonsecure residential or nonresidential
140 program, designated to supervise and rehabilitate juvenile offenders, that prioritizes the least
141 restrictive setting, consistent with public safety, and operated by or under contract with the
142 Division of Juvenile Justice Services.
143 (13) "Community placement" means placement of a minor in a community-based
144 program described in Section 80-5-402.
145 (14) "Correctional facility" means:
146 (a) a county jail; or
147 (b) a secure correctional facility as defined in Section 64-13-1.
148 (15) "Criminogenic risk factors" means evidence-based factors that are associated with
149 a minor's likelihood of reoffending.
150 (16) "Department" means the Department of Human Services created in Section
151 62A-1-102.
152 (17) "Dependent child" or "dependency" means a child who is without proper care
153 through no fault of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
154 (18) "Deprivation of custody" means transfer of legal custody by the juvenile court
155 from a parent or a previous custodian to another person, agency, or institution.
156 (19) "Detention" means home detention or secure detention.
157 (20) "Detention risk assessment tool" means an evidence-based tool established under
158 Section 80-5-203 that:
159 (a) assesses a minor's risk of failing to appear in court or reoffending before
160 adjudication; and
161 (b) is designed to assist in making a determination of whether a minor shall be held in
162 detention.
163 (21) "Developmental immaturity" means incomplete development in one or more
164 domains that manifests as a functional limitation in the minor's present ability to:
165 (a) consult with counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; and
166 (b) have a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings.
167 (22) "Disposition" means an order by a juvenile court, after the adjudication of a
168 minor, under Section 80-3-405 or 80-4-305 or Chapter 6, Part 7, Adjudication and Disposition.
169 (23) "Educational neglect" means that, after receiving a notice of compulsory education
170 violation under Section 53G-6-202, the parent or guardian fails to make a good faith effort to
171 ensure that the child receives an appropriate education.
172 (24) "Educational series" means an evidence-based instructional series:
173 (a) obtained at a substance abuse program that is approved by the Division of
174 Substance Abuse and Mental Health in accordance with Section 62A-15-105; and
175 (b) designed to prevent substance use or the onset of a mental health disorder.
176 (25) "Emancipated" means the same as that term is defined in Section 80-7-102.
177 (26) "Evidence-based" means a program or practice that has had multiple randomized
178 control studies or a meta-analysis demonstrating that the program or practice is effective for a
179 specific population or has been rated as effective by a standardized program evaluation tool.
180 (27) "Forensic evaluator" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-15-2.
181 (28) "Formal probation" means a minor is:
182 (a) supervised in the community by, and reports to, a juvenile probation officer or an
183 agency designated by the juvenile court; and
184 (b) subject to return to the juvenile court in accordance with Section 80-6-607.
185 (29) "Group rehabilitation therapy" means psychological and social counseling of one
186 or more individuals in the group, depending upon the recommendation of the therapist.
187 (30) "Guardian" means a person appointed by a court to make decisions regarding a
188 minor, including the authority to consent to:
189 (a) marriage;
190 (b) enlistment in the armed forces;
191 (c) major medical, surgical, or psychiatric treatment; or
192 (d) legal custody, if legal custody is not vested in another individual, agency, or
193 institution.
194 (31) "Guardian ad litem" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78A-2-801.
195 (32) "Harm" means:
196 (a) physical or developmental injury or damage;
197 (b) emotional damage that results in a serious impairment in the child's growth,
198 development, behavior, or psychological functioning;
199 (c) sexual abuse; or
200 (d) sexual exploitation.
201 (33) "Home detention" means placement of a minor:
202 (a) if prior to a disposition, in the minor's home, or in a surrogate home with the
203 consent of the minor's parent, guardian, or custodian, under terms and conditions established by
204 the Division of Juvenile Justice Services or the juvenile court; or
205 (b) if after a disposition, and in accordance with Section 78A-6-353 or 80-6-704, in the
206 minor's home, or in a surrogate home with the consent of the minor's parent, guardian, or
207 custodian, under terms and conditions established by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services
208 or the juvenile court.
209 (34) (a) "Incest" means engaging in sexual intercourse with an individual whom the
210 perpetrator knows to be the perpetrator's ancestor, descendant, brother, sister, uncle, aunt,
211 nephew, niece, or first cousin.
212 (b) "Incest" includes:
213 (i) blood relationships of the whole or half blood, [
214 regardless of whether the relationship is legally recognized;
215 (ii) relationships of parent and child by adoption; and
216 (iii) relationships of stepparent and stepchild while the marriage creating the
217 relationship of a stepparent and stepchild exists.
218 (35) "Indian child" means the same as that term is defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903.
219 (36) "Indian tribe" means the same as that term is defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903.
220 (37) "Indigent defense service provider" means the same as that term is defined in
221 Section 78B-22-102.
222 (38) "Indigent defense services" means the same as that term is defined in Section
223 78B-22-102.
224 (39) "Indigent individual" means the same as that term is defined in Section
225 78B-22-102.
226 (40) (a) "Intake probation" means a minor is:
227 (i) monitored by a juvenile probation officer; and
228 (ii) subject to return to the juvenile court in accordance with Section 80-6-607.
229 (b) "Intake probation" does not include formal probation.
230 (41) "Intellectual disability" means a significant subaverage general intellectual
231 functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior that constitutes a
232 substantial limitation to the individual's ability to function in society.
233 (42) "Juvenile offender" means:
234 (a) a serious youth offender; or
235 (b) a youth offender.
236 (43) "Juvenile probation officer" means a probation officer appointed under Section
237 78A-6-205.
238 (44) "Juvenile receiving center" means a nonsecure, nonresidential program established
239 by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, or under contract with the Division of Juvenile
240 Justice Services, that is responsible for minors taken into temporary custody under Section
241 80-6-201.
242 (45) "Legal custody" means a relationship embodying:
243 (a) the right to physical custody of the minor;
244 (b) the right and duty to protect, train, and discipline the minor;
245 (c) the duty to provide the minor with food, clothing, shelter, education, and ordinary
246 medical care;
247 (d) the right to determine where and with whom the minor shall live; and
248 (e) the right, in an emergency, to authorize surgery or other extraordinary care.
249 (46) "Mental illness" means:
250 (a) a psychiatric disorder that substantially impairs an individual's mental, emotional,
251 behavioral, or related functioning; or
252 (b) the same as that term is defined in:
253 (i) the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
254 published by the American Psychiatric Association; or
255 (ii) the current edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and
256 Related Health Problems.
257 (47) "Minor" means, except as provided in Sections 80-6-501, 80-6-901, and 80-7-102:
258 (a) a child; or
259 (b) an individual:
260 (i) (A) who is at least 18 years old and younger than 21 years old; and
261 (B) for whom the Division of Child and Family Services has been specifically ordered
262 by the juvenile court to provide services because the individual was an abused, neglected, or
263 dependent child or because the individual was adjudicated for an offense; or
264 (ii) (A) who is at least 18 years old and younger than 25 years old; and
265 (B) whose case is under the continuing jurisdiction of the juvenile court under Chapter
266 6, Juvenile Justice.
267 (48) "Mobile crisis outreach team" means the same as that term is defined in Section
268 62A-15-102.
269 (49) "Molestation" means that an individual, with the intent to arouse or gratify the
270 sexual desire of any individual, touches the anus, buttocks, pubic area, or genitalia of any child,
271 or the breast of a female child, or takes indecent liberties with a child as defined in Section
272 76-5-416.
273 (50) (a) "Natural parent" means a minor's biological or adoptive parent.
274 (b) "Natural parent" includes the minor's noncustodial parent.
275 (51) (a) "Neglect" means action or inaction causing:
276 (i) abandonment of a child, except as provided in Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 8, Safe
277 Relinquishment of a Newborn Child;
278 (ii) lack of proper parental care of a child by reason of the fault or habits of the parent,
279 guardian, or custodian;
280 (iii) failure or refusal of a parent, guardian, or custodian to provide proper or necessary
281 subsistence or medical care, or any other care necessary for the child's health, safety, morals, or
282 well-being;
283 (iv) a child to be at risk of being neglected or abused because another child in the same
284 home is neglected or abused;
285 (v) abandonment of a child through an unregulated custody transfer; or
286 (vi) educational neglect.
287 (b) "Neglect" does not include:
288 (i) a parent or guardian legitimately practicing religious beliefs and who, for that
289 reason, does not provide specified medical treatment for a child;
290 (ii) a health care decision made for a child by the child's parent or guardian, unless the
291 state or other party to a proceeding shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that the health
292 care decision is not reasonable and informed;
293 (iii) a parent or guardian exercising the right described in Section 80-3-304; or
294 (iv) permitting a child, whose basic needs are met and who is of sufficient age and
295 maturity to avoid harm or unreasonable risk of harm, to engage in independent activities,
296 including:
297 (A) traveling to and from school, including by walking, running, or bicycling;
298 (B) traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities;
299 (C) engaging in outdoor play;
300 (D) remaining in a vehicle unattended, except under the conditions described in
301 Subsection 76-10-2202(2);
302 (E) remaining at home unattended; or
303 (F) engaging in a similar independent activity.
304 (52) "Neglected child" means a child who has been subjected to neglect.
305 (53) "Nonjudicial adjustment" means closure of the case by the assigned juvenile
306 probation officer, without an adjudication of the minor's case under Section 80-6-701, upon the
307 consent in writing of:
308 (a) the assigned juvenile probation officer; and
309 (b) (i) the minor; or
310 (ii) the minor and the minor's parent, legal guardian, or custodian.
311 (54) "Not competent to proceed" means that a minor, due to a mental illness,
312 intellectual disability or related condition, or developmental immaturity, lacks the ability to:
313 (a) understand the nature of the proceedings against the minor or of the potential
314 disposition for the offense charged; or
315 (b) consult with counsel and participate in the proceedings against the minor with a
316 reasonable degree of rational understanding.
317 (55) "Parole" means a conditional release of a juvenile offender from residency in
318 secure care to live outside of secure care under the supervision of the Division of Juvenile
319 Justice Services, or another person designated by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services.
320 (56) "Physical abuse" means abuse that results in physical injury or damage to a child.
321 (57) (a) "Probation" means a legal status created by court order, following an
322 adjudication under Section 80-6-701, whereby the minor is permitted to remain in the minor's
323 home under prescribed conditions.
324 (b) "Probation" includes intake probation or formal probation.
325 (58) "Prosecuting attorney" means:
326 (a) the attorney general and any assistant attorney general;
327 (b) any district attorney or deputy district attorney;
328 (c) any county attorney or assistant county attorney; and
329 (d) any other attorney authorized to commence an action on behalf of the state.
330 (59) "Protective custody" means the shelter of a child by the Division of Child and
331 Family Services from the time the child is removed from the home until the earlier of:
332 (a) the day on which the shelter hearing is held under Section 80-3-301; or
333 (b) the day on which the child is returned home.
334 (60) "Protective supervision" means a legal status created by court order, following an
335 adjudication on the ground of abuse, neglect, or dependency, whereby:
336 (a) the minor is permitted to remain in the minor's home; and
337 (b) supervision and assistance to correct the abuse, neglect, or dependency is provided
338 by an agency designated by the juvenile court.
339 (61) (a) "Related condition" means a condition that:
340 (i) is found to be closely related to intellectual disability;
341 (ii) results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior
342 similar to that of an intellectually disabled individual;
343 (iii) is likely to continue indefinitely; and
344 (iv) constitutes a substantial limitation to the individual's ability to function in society.
345 (b) "Related condition" does not include mental illness, psychiatric impairment, or
346 serious emotional or behavioral disturbance.
347 (62) (a) "Residual parental rights and duties" means the rights and duties remaining
348 with a parent after legal custody or guardianship, or both, have been vested in another person or
349 agency, including:
350 (i) the responsibility for support;
351 (ii) the right to consent to adoption;
352 (iii) the right to determine the child's religious affiliation; and
353 (iv) the right to reasonable parent-time unless restricted by the court.
354 (b) If no guardian has been appointed, "residual parental rights and duties" includes the
355 right to consent to:
356 (i) marriage;
357 (ii) enlistment; and
358 (iii) major medical, surgical, or psychiatric treatment.
359 (63) "Runaway" means a child, other than an emancipated child, who willfully leaves
360 the home of the child's parent or guardian, or the lawfully prescribed residence of the child,
361 without permission.
362 (64) "Secure care" means placement of a minor, who is committed to the Division of
363 Juvenile Justice Services for rehabilitation, in a facility operated by, or under contract with, the
364 Division of Juvenile Justice Services, that provides 24-hour supervision and confinement of the
365 minor.
366 (65) "Secure care facility" means a facility, established in accordance with Section
367 80-5-503, for juvenile offenders in secure care.
368 (66) "Secure detention" means temporary care of a minor who requires secure custody
369 in a physically restricting facility operated by, or under contract with, the Division of Juvenile
370 Justice Services:
371 (a) before disposition of an offense that is alleged to have been committed by the
372 minor; or
373 (b) under Section 80-6-704.
374 (67) "Serious youth offender" means an individual who:
375 (a) is at least 14 years old, but under 25 years old;
376 (b) committed a felony listed in Subsection 80-6-503(1) and the continuing jurisdiction
377 of the juvenile court was extended over the individual's case until the individual was 25 years
378 old in accordance with Section 80-6-605; and
379 (c) is committed by the juvenile court to the Division of Juvenile Justice Services for
380 secure care under Sections 80-6-703 and 80-6-705.
381 (68) "Severe abuse" means abuse that causes or threatens to cause serious harm to a
382 child.
383 (69) "Severe neglect" means neglect that causes or threatens to cause serious harm to a
384 child.
385 (70) "Sexual abuse" means:
386 (a) an act or attempted act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, incest, or molestation by an
387 adult directed towards a child;
388 (b) an act or attempted act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, incest, or molestation
389 committed by a child towards another child if:
390 (i) there is an indication of force or coercion;
391 (ii) the children are related, as described in Subsection (34), including siblings by
392 marriage while the marriage exists or by adoption;
393 (iii) there have been repeated incidents of sexual contact between the two children,
394 unless the children are 14 years old or older; or
395 (iv) there is a disparity in chronological age of four or more years between the two
396 children;
397 (c) engaging in any conduct with a child that would constitute an offense under any of
398 the following, regardless of whether the individual who engages in the conduct is actually
399 charged with, or convicted of, the offense:
400 (i) Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses, except for Section 76-5-401, if the
401 alleged perpetrator of an offense described in Section 76-5-401 is a minor;
402 (ii) child bigamy, Section 76-7-101.5;
403 (iii) incest, Section 76-7-102;
404 (iv) lewdness, Section 76-9-702;
405 (v) sexual battery, Section 76-9-702.1;
406 (vi) lewdness involving a child, Section 76-9-702.5; or
407 (vii) voyeurism, Section 76-9-702.7; or
408 (d) subjecting a child to participate in or threatening to subject a child to participate in
409 a sexual relationship, regardless of whether that sexual relationship is part of a legal or cultural
410 marriage.
411 (71) "Sexual exploitation" means knowingly:
412 (a) employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing any child to:
413 (i) pose in the nude for the purpose of sexual arousal of any individual; or
414 (ii) engage in any sexual or simulated sexual conduct for the purpose of photographing,
415 filming, recording, or displaying in any way the sexual or simulated sexual conduct;
416 (b) displaying, distributing, possessing for the purpose of distribution, or selling
417 material depicting a child:
418 (i) in the nude, for the purpose of sexual arousal of any individual; or
419 (ii) engaging in sexual or simulated sexual conduct; or
420 (c) engaging in any conduct that would constitute an offense under Section 76-5b-201,
421 sexual exploitation of a minor, regardless of whether the individual who engages in the conduct
422 is actually charged with, or convicted of, the offense.
423 (72) "Shelter" means the temporary care of a child in a physically unrestricted facility
424 pending a disposition or transfer to another jurisdiction.
425 (73) "Shelter facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
426 (74) "Single criminal episode" means the same as that term is defined in Section
427 76-1-401.
428 (75) "Status offense" means an offense that would not be an offense but for the age of
429 the offender.
430 (76) "Substance abuse" means the misuse or excessive use of alcohol or other drugs or
431 substances.
432 (77) "Substantiated" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
433 (78) "Supported" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
434 (79) "Termination of parental rights" means the permanent elimination of all parental
435 rights and duties, including residual parental rights and duties, by court order.
436 (80) "Therapist" means:
437 (a) an individual employed by a state division or agency for the purpose of conducting
438 psychological treatment and counseling of a minor in the division's or agency's custody; or
439 (b) any other individual licensed or approved by the state for the purpose of conducting
440 psychological treatment and counseling.
441 (81) "Threatened harm" means actions, inactions, or credible verbal threats, indicating
442 that the child is at an unreasonable risk of harm or neglect.
443 (82) "Ungovernable" means a child in conflict with a parent or guardian, and the
444 conflict:
445 (a) results in behavior that is beyond the control or ability of the child, or the parent or
446 guardian, to manage effectively;
447 (b) poses a threat to the safety or well-being of the child, the child's family, or others;
448 or
449 (c) results in the situations described in Subsections (82)(a) and (b).
450 (83) "Unregulated custody transfer" means the placement of a child:
451 (a) with an individual who is not the child's parent, step-parent, grandparent, adult
452 sibling, adult uncle or aunt, or legal guardian, or a friend of the family who is an adult and with
453 whom the child is familiar, or a member of the child's federally recognized tribe;
454 (b) with the intent of severing the child's existing parent-child or guardian-child
455 relationship; and
456 (c) without taking:
457 (i) reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the child and permanency of the placement;
458 and
459 (ii) the necessary steps to transfer the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood or
460 guardianship to the individual taking custody of the child.
461 (84) "Unsupported" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
462 (85) "Unsubstantiated" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
463 (86) "Validated risk and needs assessment" means an evidence-based tool that assesses
464 a minor's risk of reoffending and a minor's criminogenic needs.
465 (87) "Without merit" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-4a-101.
466 (88) "Youth offender" means an individual who is:
467 (a) at least 12 years old, but under 21 years old; and
468 (b) committed by the juvenile court to the Division of Juvenile Justice Services for
469 secure care under Sections 80-6-703 and 80-6-705.