AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.

Utah's child protection ombudsman — an independent position within the state Department of Health and Human Services that investigates complaints about child welfare decisions — gains expanded responsibilities under this bill. The ombudsman must now post clear information about parents' and children's fundamental rights on its website, and must submit an annual written report to two legislative oversight committees covering complaint totals, investigation numbers, recurring themes, and policy recommendations. The bill also expands the ombudsman's complaint authority to cover concerns related to parents, not just children, and requires peace officers and child welfare caseworkers to tell parents or guardians — at the moment a child is taken into protective custody — that the ombudsman exists and can help them navigate the child welfare system, with the ombudsman's website address included in the informational packet families receive.