House Bill No. introduced by B. Mercer seeks to revise and enhance the legal framework surrounding the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults in Montana. The bill introduces new definitions for key terms such as "abuse," "neglect," and "vulnerable adult," while establishing penalties for offenses including abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and failure to report abuse. It also revises existing laws related to identity theft, increasing penalties for those who exploit vulnerable individuals, including minors. Additionally, the bill repeals outdated or redundant sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and amends various sections to align with the new definitions and penalties, ensuring a comprehensive approach to protecting vulnerable populations.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of felony penalties for abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines up to $10,000. It addresses false reporting and failure to report abuse, imposing penalties for knowingly providing false information. The bill also introduces new requirements for the admissibility of hearsay testimony in court, mandating specific details about the statement and requiring courts to issue findings regarding its reliability. Furthermore, it expands the definition of "crime of violence" and outlines responsibilities for costs associated with psychosexual evaluations for certain offenders, aiming to enhance the judicial process related to sexual offenses and the treatment of offenders.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1(1): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1(2): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1(3): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1(4): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1(5): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_1: 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(1): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(10): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(11): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(12): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(13): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(2): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(3): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(4): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(5): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(6): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(7): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(8): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2(9): 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803
HB0532_2: 44-15-103, 45-6-332, 46-16-222, 46-18-104, 46-18-111, 46-23-502, 46-23-509, 52-3-803