Another bill under consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session is House Bill 193 (HB0198 (utah.gov)).
This bill would, if passed into law, 1) make clear that a “totality of circumstances” analysis applies when a juvenile court determines whether to terminate parental rights; 2) provide that the existence of a placement option that does not require the termination of parental rights does not preclude a finding, based on the totality of the circumstances, that termination of parental rights is strictly necessary to promote the child’s best interest; and 3) as applicable, require the juvenile court to include the considerations described in Utah Code Sections 80-4-303 and 80-4-304 when determining the best interest of the child.
While Utah caselaw already made clear that a “totality of circumstances” analysis applies when a juvenile court determines whether to terminate parental rights. And the Utah Code already requires a juvenile court to include in its determinations in Sections 80-4-303 and 80-4-304 when determining the best interest of the child, it does not appear to me that making this clear in the statute itself is a bad thing.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277
