"It will save countless children an enormous amount of trauma," said Richard Wexler, the executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, a group that has pushed for the change.

The Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006 required detailed background checks for foster or adoptive parents, placing a difficult hurdle for relatives when children suddenly need a home. Utah's strict interpretation of the law had led to children spending weeks in shelters before background checks were complete.

"We could have made more placements in a shorter period of time if we had the kind of flexibility this bill seeks to give us," said Duane Betournay, the director of the division of child and family services.

More than 100 kids annually would be affected by this law, he said. But the change would come with a financial drawback: The state may lose as much as $147,400 in federal dollars for fiscal year 2009 because children would be placed in homes before full background checks are complete.

The Utah Foster Care Foundation also supports the change.

jlyon@sltrib.com

HB36

Would allow relatives to act as temporary foster parents before full background checks are complete.

Status: The bill has been introduced in the Senate and passed in the House.