House approves HB 86 to clarify DHS investigative roles and codify limited fatality review access

The Utah House passed House Bill 86 unanimously on Feb. 1 after sponsor Representative Rebecca Lockhart told the chamber the bill resolves statutory ambiguity about who must conduct related‑party child abuse and neglect investigations and formalizes limited legislative access to fatality reviews.

Lockhart said committee review found confusion in the statute about whether an outside contractor was required or if another state agency could perform the work. HB 86 clarifies that related‑party investigations should be done by a private‑sector investigator. She also explained the bill codifies existing practice for fatality reviews so that the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel and the Health and Human Services Interim Committee can, in limited and sometimes closed sessions, review sensitive fatality reviews to identify systemic problems.

Representative Lipback asked whether moving related‑party investigations back to private contractors would cause staff (FTE) losses in the Office of Services Review. Lockhart replied she was not aware of any expected FTE losses and described the change as a transfer of existing funds from internal review to contractor work.

The House opened and closed voting on HB 86 the same day; the clerk recorded 74 yes and 0 no votes. HB 86 will be transmitted to the Senate.

Clarifying detail: Sponsor indicated lines 167–181 of the bill address the investigator requirement; she said funds currently used in the Office of Services Review will be transferred to outside contracts, not represent additional cost to the state.