The bill seeks to modernize Montana's legal framework to better support the dignity and rights of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It introduces significant language updates, replacing terms such as "hearing loss" with "various auditory ranges" and "impaired hearing" with "being deaf or hard of hearing." These changes aim to provide a more respectful and accurate representation of the experiences of individuals with hearing disabilities. Additionally, the bill mandates that insurance contracts include coverage for treatments related to these conditions, particularly for children, thereby improving access to necessary healthcare services.

Moreover, the bill revises definitions and provisions related to disabilities, education, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. It updates the term "disability" to "condition" and clarifies the school's role in providing specialized education for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind. The bill also modifies eligibility criteria for services, allowing for the admission of nonresident children under certain conditions. It emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention through newborn hearing screenings and establishes provisions for the use of qualified interpreters in legal settings. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance support and resources for individuals with hearing disabilities in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(1): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(2): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(3): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(4): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(5): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(6): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1(7): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_1: 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(1): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(2): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(3): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(4): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(5): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(6): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(7): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2(8): 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402
HB0184_2: 2-18-704, 13-1-101, 20-8-102, 20-8-104, 20-8-107, 20-8-116, 33-22-128, 37-16-102, 49-4-501, 49-4-502, 49-4-602, 53-19-401, 53-19-402