Bill > SB249

This bill revises Montana's child abuse and neglect laws by modifying the adjudication process for cases involving children in need of care. The key change removes language specifically limiting the requirement to hear additional evidence only in cases of alleged abandonment, and instead broadens the court's obligation to hear evidence from individuals caring for a child. Specifically, the court must now listen to testimony about the extent to which someone other than the child's parents has cared for, nurtured, or supported the child. When a child has been placed with another person, the court must consider evidence about the parents' intent in placing the child, the continuity of care provided by the caregiver (including stability in residence, schooling, and activities), and the specific circumstances of the placement, such as whether the placement was to allow a parent to seek employment or attend school. The bill also removes specific references to who can allege abandonment (county attorney, attorney general, or county-hired attorney) and makes the evidentiary requirements more uniform. The bill is effective immediately upon passage and is part of Montana's ongoing efforts to ensure comprehensive and nuanced consideration of child welfare cases.