Bill > SJ30

This bill requests the Legislative Council to designate an interim committee to conduct a comprehensive study of Montana's child abuse and neglect registry. The study aims to address several key issues, including monitoring the implementation of a new expungement process established by SB 468, examining the Department of Public Health and Human Services' notice and hearing procedures, and evaluating the current registry's effectiveness in balancing child safety with individual rights. The committee will explore topics such as the appropriate duration of registry listings, record destruction timelines, the potential for concurrent hearings, and an individual's right to counsel during the registry addition process. The bill acknowledges that Montana has historically listed individuals without substantiated child abuse cases and has not provided an expungement process, which violates federal law and can negatively impact employment and volunteer opportunities. The interim committee is expected to provide input to the department, craft potential legislation to refine the registry's processes, and report its findings to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026, with the ultimate goal of creating a more just and effective child abuse and neglect registry system.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0505