The bill introduces measures to enhance compliance with mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting requirements by imposing a 2% reduction in a county's entitlement share if it fails to meet these obligations. Specifically, if the Department of Revenue is notified by the Attorney General of a county's noncompliance with the reporting requirements outlined in section 41-3-210(3), the financial penalty will be enacted. This initiative aims to hold counties accountable for their reporting duties, ultimately protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that child abuse and neglect cases are properly reported.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that county attorneys provide specific information to the Attorney General on a biannual basis, including case identifiers, report dates, and prosecution outcomes. If a county attorney does not comply with these reporting requirements, the Attorney General is required to notify both the county attorney and the county commissioners within ten days. Should the county attorney fail to submit the necessary information within thirty days of the notice, the Attorney General must report this noncompliance to the Department of Revenue, which could lead to further financial repercussions for the county. The bill amends Sections 15-1-121 and 41-3-210 of the Montana Code Annotated to incorporate these provisions, reinforcing the legal framework for child protection in the state.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(1): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(2): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(3): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(4): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(5): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1(6): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_1: 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(1): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(10): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(11): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(12): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(13): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(14): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(15): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(2): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(3): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(4): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(5): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(6): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(7): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(8): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2(9): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_2: 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(1): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(2): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(3): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(4): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(5): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(6): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(7): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X(8): 15-1-121, 41-3-210
HB0625_X: 15-1-121, 41-3-210