Bill > SJ32

This bill requests the Legislative Council to assign an interim committee or staff to conduct a comprehensive study on reviving the Citizen Review Board Program for child protective service cases. The Citizen Review Board Program, originally established in 1993 and expanded statewide in the late 1990s but defunded in 2003, aims to improve child protection services by involving citizens with lived experience in the system. The study will explore funding opportunities (including non-governmental sources), administrative needs, inter-governmental coordination, and statewide standards for these boards. Additionally, the study will examine potential cost savings from reduced court involvement and how citizen review boards can enhance the child protection system by reviewing service quality, promoting community cooperation, advocating for child protection resources, and providing policy recommendations. The bill requires that the study's findings be presented to an appropriate legislative committee, completed before September 15, 2026, and reported to the 70th Legislature, with the goal of creating a more effective, consistent, and community-driven child protection system that minimizes trauma for families involved in dependent neglect and abuse cases.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0503