House Bill 77 seeks to revise the laws governing child abuse and neglect investigations by the Department of Public Health and Human Services in Montana. A significant change includes the repeal of the provision for "temporary investigative authority," which previously allowed for certain investigative measures in abuse and neglect cases. The bill also modifies the burden of proof required for relief in these petitions, eliminating the need to establish probable cause for temporary investigative authority. Additionally, it amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to streamline the petition process, focusing on immediate protection and legal custody while removing temporary investigative measures.

The bill introduces new provisions that require petitions for immediate protection and emergency services to be supported by an affidavit from a department representative detailing the case facts. It emphasizes the child's health and safety, mandating the court to consider factors such as emotional trauma and relationships when deciding on child removal. Furthermore, it limits the duration of immediate protection orders to 90 days, ensuring regular court reviews of the necessity for continued intervention. The bill also outlines the rights of parents and guardians, including the right to have support during meetings with child protection specialists and the ability to contest the affidavit's claims through a show cause hearing. Overall, House Bill 77 aims to enhance child protection laws while safeguarding parental rights.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(1): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(2): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(3): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(4): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(5): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(6): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1(7): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_1: 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_2: 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(1): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(10): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(11): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(12): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(13): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(14): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(2): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(3): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(4): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(5): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(6): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(7): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(8): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X(9): 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432
HB0077_X: 3-5-901, 41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432