The bill proposes amendments to the existing public defender system in Montana, specifically regarding the assignment of public defenders in various legal proceedings. Notably, it authorizes courts to assign public defenders for parents involved in proceedings to involuntarily terminate their parental rights, as indicated by the new insertion of language specifying this provision. Additionally, the bill allows for the assignment of public defenders to serve as members of treatment court teams, enhancing the support available in these specialized legal contexts.

The bill also amends Section 47-1-104 of the Montana Code Annotated, which outlines the structure and scope of public defender services. It includes a deletion of the previous provision regarding the assignment of public defenders in certain cases, while adding new categories for assignment, such as for parents in termination proceedings. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, ensuring that the public defender system can adapt to these new requirements in a timely manner.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 47-1-104
HB0575_1(1): 47-1-104
HB0575_1: 47-1-104