1. (1) As used in this section:

   1. (a) "Director" means the director of the Office of American Indian-Alaska Native Health and Family Services appointed under Section 26B-1-231.
   2. (b) "ICWA liaison" means the Indian Child Welfare Act Liaison appointed under Subsection (2).

2. (2)

   1. (a) The executive director shall appoint an individual as the Indian Child Welfare Act Liaison who:

      1. (i) has a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college; and
      2. (ii) is knowledgeable about the areas of child and family services and Indian tribal child rearing practices.
   2. (b) The ICWA liaison shall serve under the supervision of the director.

3. (3) The ICWA liaison shall:

   1. (a) act as a liaison between the department and Utah's American Indian populations regarding child and family services;
   2. (b) provide training to department employees regarding the requirements and implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Secs. 1901-1963;
   3. (c) develop and facilitate education and technical assistance programs for Utah's American Indian populations regarding available child and family services;
   4. (d) promote and coordinate collaborative efforts between the department and Utah's American Indian population to improve the availability and accessibility of quality child and family services for Utah's American Indian populations; and

   5. (e) interact with the following to improve delivery and accessibility of child and family services for Utah's American Indian populations:

      1. (i) state agencies and officials; and
      2. (ii) providers of child and family services in the public and private sector.
4. (4) The ICWA liaison shall annually report the liaison's activities and accomplishments to the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee created in Section 36-22-1.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 305, 2023 General Session