S.B. 185
Signed into LawChild Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
Introduction
Jan 23
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 3
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 9
House Rules
Feb 9
House Committee
Feb 17
House Floor Vote
Feb 19
Governor Signed
Mar 23
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- allows the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to:
- provide education and support for all parental representation attorneys;
- support indigent parental defense services through grants; and
- administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program;
- removes the requirement for attorneys to be contracted; and
- modifies the way the executive director shall prepare the budget.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Utah's Child Welfare Parental Representation Program — which provides legal representation to parents involved in child welfare cases — currently limits its training and support services to contracted attorneys only. This bill removes that restriction, allowing the program to provide education, training, and guidance to all parental representation attorneys regardless of whether they are under contract. It also formally authorizes the program to distribute grants for legal defense services for low-income parents through the Indigent Defense Commission, and to administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program. Additionally, the bill updates how the program's budget is prepared, requiring it to reflect actual amounts spent in the prior year rather than estimates.
S.B. 185
Signed into LawChild Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
Introduction
Jan 23
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 3
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 9
House Rules
Feb 9
House Committee
Feb 17
House Floor Vote
Feb 19
Governor Signed
Mar 23
IntroductionJan 23
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeFeb 3
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 4
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 9
House RulesFeb 9
House CommitteeFeb 17
House Floor VoteFeb 19
Governor SignedMar 23
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- allows the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to:
- provide education and support for all parental representation attorneys;
- support indigent parental defense services through grants; and
- administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program;
- removes the requirement for attorneys to be contracted; and
- modifies the way the executive director shall prepare the budget.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Utah's Child Welfare Parental Representation Program — which provides legal representation to parents involved in child welfare cases — currently limits its training and support services to contracted attorneys only. This bill removes that restriction, allowing the program to provide education, training, and guidance to all parental representation attorneys regardless of whether they are under contract. It also formally authorizes the program to distribute grants for legal defense services for low-income parents through the Indigent Defense Commission, and to administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program. Additionally, the bill updates how the program's budget is prepared, requiring it to reflect actual amounts spent in the prior year rather than estimates.
Votes
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Original
Subjects
Action History36
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:44 PM
