UT SB0185

Expands the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to provide education and training for all parental representation attorneys, not just contracted attorneys

Authorizes the program to support indigent parental defense services through grants administered via the Indigent Defense Commission, subject to legislative appropriation

Assigns the program responsibility for administering the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program established in Section 80-22-805

Removes the requirement that attorneys providing parental representation must be contracted with the office as independent contractors

Changes budget preparation requirements so the executive director reports actual prior year expenditures rather than estimated funding needs; annual reports to the governor and Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel remain due by October 1

Effective date: May 6, 2026