Senate Bill No. introduced by D. Emrich and T. Manzella establishes new rules of conduct for child protection specialists in Montana. The bill prohibits child protection specialists or applicants for certification from threatening individuals with criminal charges to deter them from contesting matters in child abuse and neglect proceedings. It also prevents them from denying a person the opportunity to become a foster placement or guardian solely based on that person's actions, such as offering advice against the department or recommending legal counsel. Additionally, the bill mandates that when coordinating services for a parent or child, specialists must utilize unbiased professionals relevant to the needs of those involved.

The bill introduces a mechanism for accountability by allowing parents, guardians, or custodians to file complaints with the Child and Family Ombudsman if they believe a violation of the established rules has occurred. This replaces previous provisions that allowed complaints to be filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices, who was also authorized to investigate such complaints. The new language emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct among child protection specialists and aims to ensure fair treatment in child welfare proceedings.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1(1): 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1(2): 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1(3): 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1(4): 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1(5): 2-2-136, 41-3-205
SB0272_1: 2-2-136, 41-3-205