This bill amends Section 45-5-622 of the Montana Code Annotated to enhance the legal framework surrounding the offense of endangering the welfare of children. It introduces a new provision that makes it an offense to knowingly commit certain crimes related to partner or family member assault in the presence of a child under 18 years of age. The bill specifies that only the predominant aggressor in such situations may be charged under this new provision, and it allows for separate charges for each child present during the offense. Additionally, it clarifies definitions related to "family member" and "partner" and establishes penalties for violations of this section.

The bill also revises penalties for various offenses related to endangering the welfare of children. It establishes that a person convicted under the new subsection regarding partner or family member assault in the presence of a child will face misdemeanor charges, with fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 and potential jail time of 72 hours to one year. Other sections of the law are amended to reflect these changes, including the penalties for different levels of endangerment, ensuring that the legal consequences are appropriately aligned with the severity of the offenses. The act will apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-5-622
HB0191_1(1): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(10): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(2): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(3): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(4): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(5): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(6): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(7): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(8): 45-5-622
HB0191_1(9): 45-5-622
HB0191_1: 45-5-622
HB0191_X(1): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(10): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(11): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(12): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(13): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(2): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(3): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(4): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(5): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(6): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(7): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(8): 45-5-622
HB0191_X(9): 45-5-622
HB0191_X: 45-5-622