Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 33 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Watkins, Christine F.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/12/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires the Division of Child and Family Services to notify law enforcement when the division determines that a person knowingly made a false report of child abuse or neglect; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

3
80-2-611
Child Welfare Reporting Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins
Senate Sponsor: John D. Johnson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions concerning false reports of child abuse or neglect.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
requires the Division of Child and Family Services to notify law enforcement when the 
division determines that a person knowingly made a false report of child abuse or 
neglect; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
80-2-611
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 334
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
80-2-611
 is amended to read:
80-2-611. False reports -- Investigation -- Notice of penalty.
(1)
The division may conduct an investigation to determine whether a report under Section 
80-2-602
 or 
80-2-603
 is false.
(2)
The division shall send a certified letter to a person who makes a report of abuse or 
neglect that is placed into or included in any part of the Management Information 
System, if the division determines, at the conclusion of the division's investigation, that:
(a)
the report is false;
(b)
it is more likely than not that the person knew the report was false at the time that 
person made the report; and
(c)
the reporting person's address is known or reasonably available.
(3)
The certified letter described in Subsection 
(2)
 shall inform the reporting person of:
(a)
the division's determination made under Subsection 
(2)
;
(b)
the penalty for submitting false information under Section 
76-8-506
 and other 
applicable laws; and
(c)
the obligation 
or ability 
of the division under Subsection 
(4)
 to inform law 
enforcement and the person alleged to have committed abuse or neglect
:
.
(i)
in the present instance if the division considers an immediate referral of the 
reporting person to law enforcement to be justified by the facts; or
(ii)
if the reporting person submits a subsequent false report involving the same 
alleged perpetrator or victim.
(4)
The division:
(a)
may
subject to Subsection 
(4)(b)
, shall
 inform law enforcement and the alleged 
perpetrator of a report for which a certified letter is required to be sent under 
Subsection 
(2)
, if an immediate referral is justified by the facts
;
 and
(b)
shall inform law enforcement and the alleged perpetrator of a report for which a 
certified letter is required to be sent under Subsection 
(2)
 if a second letter is sent to 
the reporting person involving the same alleged perpetrator or victim; and
(c)
(b)
shall determine, in consultation with law enforcement:
(i)
what information should be given to an alleged perpetrator relating to a false 
report; and
(ii)
whether good cause exists, as defined by the division by rule made in accordance 
with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
, for not 
informing an alleged perpetrator about a false report.
(5)
This section does not require the division to conduct an investigation beyond what is 
described in Subsections 
(1)
 and 
(2)
, to determine whether a report is false.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
2-24-25 8:54 AM