Bill > HB0576

This bill aims to improve the efficiency and timeliness of child welfare cases by amending existing laws. It modifies the powers and duties of a child welfare oversight panel to include reviewing reports on appeals and compliance with timelines in child welfare cases, and it requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide annual reports on these timelines to the panel and the Judiciary Interim Committee, detailing reasons for noncompliance and data on case durations. The bill also mandates that appellate courts prioritize and expedite reviews of child welfare cases to ensure timely resolutions, and it clarifies definitions related to child welfare proceedings, including a new definition for "permanency" as a permanent, safe, and stable living environment for a minor. Furthermore, it introduces new provisions that prohibit parties from waiving or extending statutory timelines in child welfare cases, except for a limited four-day extension in emergencies, and outlines strategies for juvenile courts to manage their calendars and caseloads to meet these deadlines, such as scheduling trials in advance and utilizing senior judges for nonsubstantive hearings. Finally, the bill revises permanency hearing timelines, allowing for a 60-day extension of reunification services under specific circumstances and clarifying the process for filing petitions for termination of parental rights, with an effective date of May 6, 2026.

Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0576.html