1. (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3), the division may provide adoption services and, as a licensed child-placing agency under Title 26B, Chapter 2, Part 1, Human Services Programs and Facilities, engage in child placing in accordance with this chapter, Chapter 2a, Removal and Protective Custody of a Child, Chapter 3, Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Proceedings, and Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights.
2. (2) The division shall base the division's decision for placement of an adoptable child for adoption on the best interest of the adoptable child.

3. (3) The division may not:

   1. (a) in accordance with Subsection 26B-2-127(7), place a child for adoption, either temporarily or permanently, with an individual who does not qualify for adoptive placement under Sections 81-13-202, 81-13-203, and 81-13-402;
   2. (b) consider a potential adoptive parent's willingness or unwillingness to enter a postadoption contact agreement under Section 81-13-216 as a condition of placing a child with a potential adoptive parent; or
   3. (c) except as required under the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Secs. 1901 through 1963, base the division's decision for placement of an adoptable child on the race, color, ethnicity, or national origin of either the child or the potential adoptive parent.
4. (4) The division shall establish a rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, providing that, subject to Subsection (3) and Section 81-13-402, priority of placement shall be provided to a family in which a couple is legally married under the laws of the state.
5. (5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not limit the placement of a child with the child's parent or relative or in accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.

Amended by Chapter 390, 2026 General Session