Senate Bill No. introduced by D. Lenz seeks to revise Montana's laws concerning child abuse and neglect proceedings by establishing clear roles for Child Protection Investigators and Child Reunification Specialists. The bill grants Child Protection Investigators the authority to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect, remove children when necessary, and participate in hearings related to child welfare. In contrast, Child Reunification Specialists will focus on coordinating services for children post-removal and working towards family reunification. Importantly, the bill stipulates that these two roles cannot be held by the same individual in a single case unless there are insufficient employees available. The bill also updates various definitions and terms within the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including changing "child protection specialist" to "child protection investigator" and introducing the term "child reunification specialist."

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of child protection services, emphasizing the safety and well-being of children. It outlines the responsibilities of mandated reporters, including the newly defined roles, and establishes a framework for interdisciplinary child protective teams to assist in service coordination. The bill also revises confidentiality provisions regarding case records, ensuring that the identity of reporters remains protected while allowing for necessary disclosures. Furthermore, it mandates that parents or guardians be informed of their rights during investigations and outlines the department's responsibilities in cases of child removal. Overall, the proposed changes aim to streamline processes, improve outcomes for affected families, and ensure that the best interests of children are prioritized throughout the proceedings. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(1): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(2): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(3): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(4): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(5): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(6): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1(7): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_1: 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(1): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(10): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(11): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(12): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(13): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(2): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(3): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(4): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(5): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(6): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(7): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(8): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2(9): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_2: 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(1): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(2): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(3): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(4): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(5): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(6): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(7): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(8): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X(9): 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445
SB0206_X: 41-3-102, 41-3-108, 41-3-127, 41-3-128, 41-3-129, 41-3-130, 41-3-201, 41-3-202, 41-3-205, 41-3-216, 41-3-301, 41-3-307, 41-3-427, 41-3-445