Bill > SB268

This bill renews and expands the Task Force on Dependency and Neglect Court System, originally established in 2023, by increasing its membership from 12 to 15 members and modifying its composition and duties. The task force will now include more legislative representation, with three representatives from the house and three from the senate, and an additional appointed member from the department of corrections. The group's primary objective remains studying dependency and neglect court proceedings to determine the most effective court system for serving children, families, and participants. The task force will examine potential alternative court systems, structural issues, funding mechanisms, and explore topics such as terminology, court interactions, and challenges faced by justice-involved parents. The bill extends the task force's timeline, pushing its reporting deadline to September 15, 2026, and its overall termination date to June 30, 2027. Task force members will continue to receive compensation and expenses, with provisions for appointing members and filling vacancies. The task force is required to prepare a comprehensive final report with findings, conclusions, and potential draft legislation, which will be submitted to the governor, supreme court chief justice, and the legislature.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0468