House Bill No. introduced by R. Marshall aims to enhance protections for parents and pregnant women dealing with substance use disorders by revising the Help Save Lives from Overdose Act. The bill amends Section 50-32-609 of the Montana Code Annotated to include "parental" protections alongside existing Good Samaritan provisions. It specifies that 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 will not face legal repercussions under certain drug-related statutes. Additionally, the bill ensures 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 a person's pretrial release or probation cannot be revoked based on incidents that would qualify for immunity under this section. Furthermore, it allows for the act of providing first aid or medical assistance during a drug-related overdose to be considered a mitigating factor in criminal prosecutions. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a more supportive legal environment for parents and pregnant women struggling with substance use disorders, while still maintaining accountability for other criminal activities.

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