House Bill No. introduced by R. Marshall aims to enhance protections for parents and pregnant women dealing with substance use disorders by revising the Good Samaritan protections in Montana law. The bill amends Section 50-32-609 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include specific provisions that ensure pregnant women seeking or receiving evaluation, treatment, support services for substance use disorders, prenatal health care, or postpartum health care within 12 months after delivery are not subject to certain legal repercussions. Additionally, it stipulates that a parent's positive drug test cannot solely trigger child abuse and neglect investigations, protective care placements, or the initiation of abuse and neglect proceedings.

The bill also clarifies that individuals who provide medical assistance during a drug-related overdose are granted immunity from arrest or prosecution, and their actions may be considered mitigating factors in criminal cases. Furthermore, it ensures that a person's pretrial release or probation cannot be revoked based solely on incidents that qualify for immunity under this section. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a more supportive legal environment for parents and pregnant women facing substance use challenges, while still allowing for the investigation of other crimes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 50-32-609
HB0050_1(1): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(2): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(3): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(4): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(5): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(6): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(7): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(8): 50-32-609
HB0050_1(9): 50-32-609
HB0050_1: 50-32-609
HB0050_2(1): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(10): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(11): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(12): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(13): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(2): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(3): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(4): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(5): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(6): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(7): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(8): 50-32-609
HB0050_2(9): 50-32-609
HB0050_2: 50-32-609