Bill > SB463

This bill generally revises laws related to reporting child abuse and neglect by expanding the role of public safety communications officers (9-1-1 dispatchers) in the reporting process. The bill modifies the definition of a public safety communications officer to include receiving reports of child abuse and neglect, and requires these officers to complete specialized child abuse and neglect training. When a report is received, the public safety communications officer must now immediately transmit an audio recording and all related information to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, including specific details about the report and its potential urgency. The bill also changes existing statutes to shift the initial intake of child abuse and neglect reports from department employees to public safety communications officers, while maintaining the department's responsibility for investigating and responding to these reports. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for maintaining the confidentiality of reports, specifies notification and recording procedures, and establishes rules for how these new reporting processes will be implemented. The changes are designed to potentially improve the initial handling of child abuse and neglect reports by leveraging the existing 9-1-1 emergency response system, with most provisions becoming effective on October 1, 2025, and some specific sections set to expire on September 30, 2030.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0926