1. (1)

   1. (a) The office may enter into a contract with an attorney to provide indigent defense services for a parent who is the subject of a petition alleging abuse, neglect, or dependency, and requires indigent defense services under Section 80-3-104.
   2. (b) The office shall make payment for the representation, costs, and expenses of a contracted parental representation attorney from the fund in accordance with Section 75E-10-504.

2. (2)

   1. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a contracted parental representation attorney shall:

      1. (i) complete a basic training course provided by the office;
      2. (ii) provide parental representation services consistent with the commission's core principles described in Section 75E-9-104;
      3. (iii) have experience in child welfare cases; and
      4. (iv) participate each calendar year in continuing legal education courses providing no fewer than eight hours of instruction in child welfare law.
   2. (b) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission may, by rule, exempt from the requirements of Subsection (2)(a) an attorney who has equivalent training or adequate experience.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 291, 2026 General Session