Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise Montana's laws concerning child abuse and neglect proceedings by introducing two new roles: Child Protection Investigator and Child Reunification Specialist. The Child Protection Investigator is tasked with investigating allegations of child abuse or neglect and has the authority to remove a child if necessary, while the Child Reunification Specialist coordinates services to reunify families after a child has been removed. The bill stipulates that these roles must be held by different individuals unless there are insufficient employees available. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to update definitions and clarify responsibilities, including the redefinition of "child protection specialist" to "child protection investigator" and the introduction of "child reunification specialist."

The bill also enhances the framework for child protective services by establishing interdisciplinary child protective teams and clarifying the roles of professionals required to report suspected abuse or neglect. It emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in reporting and outlines the procedures for handling investigations, including the requirement for written safety and risk assessments within 60 days. Furthermore, the bill revises the rights of parents or guardians during emergency protective services, ensuring they are informed of the reasons for a child's removal and their rights throughout the process. The changes aim to improve transparency, accountability, and the overall effectiveness of child welfare services in Montana, with the new provisions set to take effect on 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