Bill > SB18

This bill revises Montana's legal definition of child abuse or neglect to clarify that certain socioeconomic and personal circumstances do not automatically constitute child abuse or neglect. Specifically, the bill adds a provision stating that a parent's substance use, a child's obesity, disorderly living conditions, or other factors closely related to economic status alone do not constitute "physical or psychological harm to a child." This change aims to prevent families from being unnecessarily investigated or separated due to economic hardship or challenging living conditions that do not directly endanger a child's wellbeing. The amendment is part of the state's ongoing efforts to update child welfare definitions to be more nuanced and less punitive towards families facing economic challenges. By explicitly excluding these factors from the definition of child abuse, the bill seeks to provide more protection and support for families rather than creating additional barriers for parents struggling with poverty or other socioeconomic challenges.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0726