Nonjudicial Adjustment Amendments
SB 157 requires minors to receive legal advice before declining a nonjudicial adjustment agreement in legal proceedings. It mandates the Office of Indigent Defense Services to provide free legal counsel to minors considering such agreements and directs the Indigent Defense Commission to develop resources for minors to access this advice. The bill modifies Utah law to prohibit minors from waiving legal representation without first consulting counsel, with specific notice requirements before declining agreements. No new funding is appropriated for these changes, and the law directly affects minors in juvenile or delinquency cases involving nonjudicial adjustments.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 24, 2025
Signed Mar 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #1
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Mar 26, 2025
MODERATE
This bill strengthens protections for minors by requiring them to receive legal advice before they can refuse a nonjudicial adjustment (a diversion program) in juvenile court. It mandates that the Office of Indigent Defense Services provide free legal consultations to minors considering these agreements and requires the Indigent Defense Commission to fund these resources. The changes ensure that minors cannot waive their right to counsel or decline a diversion deal without first understanding their legal options.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of indigent defense duties to specifically include providing no-cost legal advice to minors considering nonjudicial adjustments, creating a new requirement for the Office of Indigent Defense Services.
REQUIREMENT
Minors are now prohibited from declining a nonjudicial adjustment unless they have first been advised of their right to consult with counsel.
The Office of Indigent Defense Services must provide no-cost legal advice to minors considering a nonjudicial adjustment and may hire attorneys to do so.
The Indigent Defense Commission's duties were modified to include encouraging resources for minors to access legal advice during nonjudicial adjustment considerations.
Procedures were added requiring juvenile probation officers to inform minors of their right to counsel and available resources if they seek to decline a nonjudicial adjustment.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Mar 26, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 5, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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