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Senate approves amended adoption bill after debate over background checks and post‑placement evaluations
Summary
After extended floor debate, the Senate passed amendments to House Bill 59 that adjust criminal‑background-check timing for adoptive placements and allow judges discretion to waive post‑placement evaluations, advancing the bill to third reading (26 ayes, 3 nays as announced on the floor).
The Utah Senate on Feb. 17 advanced substitute House Bill 59, a package of adoption-law amendments, after extended debate over balancing child protections and reducing burdens on adoptive families.
Senator Paulton, carrying the bill for Representative Stevens, said the measure exempts step-parents and certain relatives from pre‑ and post‑placement evaluations while retaining a criminal‑history search and child‑abuse check for every adoptive placement. The bill also clarifies who may conduct adoptive evaluations and allows adoptive parents, in cooperation with the court, a right to seek a second opinion if an evaluation is disapproved.
Senator Taylor…
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