Senate Bill No. [number], introduced by D. Emrich at the request of the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee, seeks to enhance legal protections for children during the removal process from their homes. The bill mandates that a warrant must be obtained for child removal, except in exigent circumstances, and 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 procedures for obtaining and executing warrants, emphasizing the necessity of legal justification for removals to prioritize children's rights and welfare.

Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions related to child welfare, including "sexual abuse" and "sexual exploitation," and introduces the term "therapeutic needs assessment" for evaluating children placed in therapeutic group homes. It modifies the definition of "withholding of medically indicated treatment" and defines "youth in need of care" as those adjudicated as abused, neglected, or abandoned. The legislation also outlines the responsibilities of child protection specialists and the department in ensuring family reunification and conducting comprehensive assessments of family circumstances, 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