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House passes second-substitute child-welfare bill after heated debate over domestic-violence language and agency powers
Summary
The House passed the second substitute to HB239, a wide-ranging child-welfare rewrite, after hours of amendments and debate over domestic-violence references, DCFS authority, and federal 'reasonable-effort' requirements. Final vote: 39–33; bill now goes to the Senate.
Lawmakers on the Utah House floor adopted the second substitute to House Bill 239, a comprehensive overhaul of child-welfare provisions, after prolonged debate about how the bill treats domestic violence, the authority of the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), and federal funding requirements.
The sponsor, Representative Hayman, defended the overhaul as the product of extensive study and oversight panel work, saying the package both expands kinship placement and provides services to victims. "We have put the oversight panel together to deal with these issues and we meet approximately twice a month on this particular issue," Hayman said during floor remarks urging support.
Opponents pressed two main concerns. One group of members warned that removing or altering…
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