Monday, February 24, 2014

Utah - Bill that would provide jury trials in parental rights termination proceedings advances to House

Desert News

SALT LAKE CITY — Legislation that would give parents the option of requesting a jury trial to decide whether their parental rights should be terminated cleared a House committee Friday.

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 5-4 to give HB318 a favorable recommendation.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, said the legislation is intended to uphold parents' fundamental liberty interests guaranteed by the Constitution.

"You have state officials, whether it's the attorney general, the guardian ad litem, (the Division of Child and Family Services) or the juvenile court themselves, they're there repeatedly. This is what they deal with. Then one individual comes in wanting due process of law. One individual comes in wanting to know their constitutional rights will be honored," Christensen said.

Full story: Desert News




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