53D-2-201. Advocacy office -- Office creation -- Trust beneficiaries and liaisons -- Beneficiary interests and rights.

500 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-53d/chapter-2/53d-2-201

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 7/1/2026

(1)There is created the School and Institutional Trust Beneficiaries' Advocacy Office with delegated agent authority to:

(a)represent the trust beneficiaries by performing the duties set forth in this chapter; and

(b)advocate for, monitor, and preserve the trust beneficiaries' rights and interests.

(2)Notwithstanding Subsection

(1), a trust beneficiary may choose to represent the trust beneficiary in any specific issue or matter as described in this chapter.

(3)Trust beneficiaries and the trust beneficiaries' principal liaisons are:

(a)public schools, represented by the staff member who administers the School LAND Trust Program, created in Section 53G-7-1206 ;

(b)Schools for the Deaf, described in Subsection 53E-8-201(1)(a) , represented by the superintendent for the State Board of Education, or the superintendent's designee;

(c)Schools for the Blind, described in Subsection 53E-8-201(1)(b) , represented by the superintendent for the State Board of Education, or the superintendent's designee;

(d)University of Utah, represented by the president of the University of Utah or the president's designee;

(e)College of Mines and Earth Sciences, described in Section 53H-4-208 , represented by the Dean of the College of Science at the University of Utah, or the dean's designee;

(f)Colleges of Education, described in Section 53C-3-105 , represented by the chair of the Utah Council of Education Deans, or the chair's designee;

(g)Utah State University, represented by the president of Utah State University or the president's designee;

(h)Miners Hospital, described in Section 53H-4-207 , represented by the director of the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, or the director's designee;

(i)Utah State Hospital, represented by the superintendent of the Utah State Hospital, created in Section 26B-1-201 , or the superintendent's designee;

(j)Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, represented by the director of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, created in Section 80-5-103 , or the director's designee;

(k)Reservoirs, represented by the director of the Division of Water Resources, created in Section 73-10-18 , or the director's designee; and

(l)Public Buildings, represented by the executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board, created in Section 63O-2-201 .

(4)Trust beneficiary rights include:

(a)the rights recognized in Section 53C-1-102 ; and

(b)applicable rights of a trust beneficiary under Utah trust law, including the right to:

(i)information related to the trust beneficiary's respective trust;

(ii)timely notice of significant trust activities;

(iii)distribution of funds as established in law;

(iv)receive regular accountings;

(v)impartial treatment; and

(vi)challenge actions or decisions deemed unlawful or not in the trust beneficiary's best interests.

(5)Trust beneficiary interests include:

(a)those recognized in Section 53C-1-102 ;

(b)the proper and lawful management of trust lands, trust funds, and trust distributions;

(c)the preservation of trust beneficiary rights; and

(d)access to information regarding measurable performance by trustee agencies and the advocacy office.

Repealed and Re-enacted by Chapter 214 , 2026 General Session