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House passes DCFS overhaul to emphasize kinship placements and in‑home services amid floor concerns
Summary
The House passed SB 255, a sweeping package of child-welfare amendments that emphasizes kinship and guardianship placements, training changes, and a shift toward in-home services; opponents warned the bill risks de-prioritizing the best-interests-of-the-child standard and urged more committee vetting.
The Utah House approved Senate Bill 255 on March 12, 2013, advancing a multi-part set of child-welfare amendments proponents said were drawn from legislative audits and agency requests. Representative Ray, sponsor on the floor, told the chamber the bill enhances training for DCFS caseworkers and attorneys, prioritizes kinship placement and sibling-group preservation, and allows guardianship to be used as a permanency option when adoption is not available. The measure also tasks the Health and Human Services interim committee with further study and implementation planning.
Floor debate was extensive. Several members…
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