Child Welfare Revisions

HB 105 amends Utah law to clarify and expand juvenile court authority regarding search and investigative warrants in child welfare cases. It authorizes juvenile courts to issue warrants allowing peace officers or child welfare caseworkers to search for a child, examine a child’s home, or interview a child about their health, safety, or welfare when there is probable cause to believe the child faces a credible threat. The bill requires these warrants to be based on verified petitions or sworn affidavits, and specifies that officers must first attempt other legal means to ensure a child’s safety before seeking a warrant. It directly affects child welfare caseworkers, law enforcement, and children in dependency or neglect cases by establishing clearer legal procedures for interventions. The bill makes no changes to funding or policy outcomes, only to the procedural framework for warrant issuance.