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Senate unanimously backs bill allowing judges to give juvenile custody to Department of Human Services
Summary
Senate Bill 5, a permissive measure allowing juvenile-court judges to give custody of offending juveniles to the Department of Human Services for coordinated treatment and supervision, passed unanimously and was sent to the House.
The Utah Senate unanimously approved substitute Senate Bill 5 on the floor, a proposal that directs juvenile-court judges that they may (but are not required to) give custody of an offending juvenile to the Department of Human Services.
Senator Tanner described the bill as an effort by the juvenile‑justice task force to encourage coordination among entities that address juvenile justice. Under the bill, custody could be transferred to the Department of Human Services so a team could apply the department's combined expertise to evaluate treatment, incarceration alternatives, parole or other elements best suited to the child's needs. Tanner described the measure as "permissive" rather than mandatory and said it was fully endorsed by the juvenile-justice task force.
The clerk reported the roll-call vote as unanimous: 29 aye votes. The bill will proceed to the House for consideration.
