Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise the laws governing the removal of children from their homes, mandating that a warrant is required for such actions unless there are exigent circumstances. The bill extends the timeline for filing an abuse and neglect petition from 72 hours to 5 working days following an emergency removal. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and introduces new provisions detailing the procedures for obtaining and executing warrants for child removal, emphasizing the need to respect the child's constitutional rights and cultural heritage during the process.

The bill also clarifies definitions related to child welfare, such as specifying that "sexual abuse" does not include necessary touching for health care needs and redefining "sexual exploitation" to encompass encouraging children to engage in prostitution or trafficking. It introduces the term "imminent and apparent danger" to enhance child safety assessments and outlines the process for conducting a "therapeutic needs assessment" within 30 days of a child's placement in a therapeutic group home. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the department's responsibility to make reasonable efforts to prevent removals and facilitate family reunification, with an effective date set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(1): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(2): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(3): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(4): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(5): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(6): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(7): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1(8): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_1: 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(1): 41-3-101, 41-3-102, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(10): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(11): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(12): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(13): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(14): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(15): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(16): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(2): 41-3-101, 41-3-102, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(3): 41-3-101, 41-3-102, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(4): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(5): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(6): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(7): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(8): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2(9): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_2: 41-3-101, 41-3-102, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(1): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(2): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(3): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(4): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(5): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(6): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(7): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(8): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3(9): 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423
SB0050_3: 41-3-101, 41-3-301, 41-3-423