This bill amends Section 47-1-104 of the Montana Code Annotated to expand the circumstances under which a public defender may be assigned. Notably, it authorizes courts to assign public defenders for parents involved in proceedings to involuntarily terminate their parental rights, which is a significant addition to the existing provisions. 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 court settings.

The bill also includes a deletion of the provision that allowed public defenders to be assigned as witnesses in criminal grand jury proceedings, while adding a new provision that explicitly includes parents in termination of parental rights cases. These changes aim to ensure that individuals facing serious legal challenges, particularly in family law matters, have access to adequate legal representation. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 47-1-104
HB0575_1(1): 47-1-104
HB0575_1(2): 47-1-104
HB0575_1(3): 47-1-104
HB0575_1(4): 47-1-104
HB0575_1: 47-1-104
HB0575_X(1): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(10): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(11): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(12): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(2): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(3): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(4): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(5): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(6): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(7): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(8): 47-1-104
HB0575_X(9): 47-1-104
HB0575_X: 47-1-104