AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.

Aimed at moving child welfare cases to resolution more quickly, this bill sets new rules for juvenile courts and appellate courts handling cases involving abused, neglected, or removed children. It generally prohibits parties from agreeing to waive or extend legally required court deadlines, with a narrow exception allowing up to four extra days if a genuine emergency arises, and it directs courts to schedule key hearings well ahead of deadlines, require attorneys to arrange coverage when unavailable, and use other judges for routine matters so critical hearings stay on schedule. The bill also shortens the maximum length of a second extension of reunification services — additional time a parent may be given to work toward reunifying with their child — from 90 days to 60 days, and requires courts to confirm that granting such an extension won't cause the case to miss other legal deadlines, including the deadline for deciding a termination of parental rights petition. Appellate courts would be required to prioritize child welfare appeals and adopt procedures to resolve them promptly. Finally, the bill creates new annual reporting requirements for the Administrative Office of the Courts, covering compliance with case deadlines by judicial district, the frequency and reasons for reunification extensions, and detailed data on how child welfare appeals are processed and how long they take, with these reports going to the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel and the Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee.