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Lawmakers hear bill to tighten child-protection policy, discourage placement of children outside U.S.
Summary
The Senate Public Health Committee heard House Bill 694, which would add a requirement that state intervention follow a finding of abuse or neglect and declare placements outside the United States "disfavored," with an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) exception. Department officials said out‑of‑country placements are rare.
Representative Bill Mercer, sponsor of House Bill 694, told the Senate Public Health Committee that the bill would tighten the declaration of policy in Title 41, chapter 3 so state intervention in families follows a finding of abuse or neglect and so that placement of children outside the United States is "disfavored," with an exception for cases governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Representative Bill Mercer is a member of the Montana House (House District 52).
The bill matters because it would change the statutory declaration of policy that guides Child and Family Services (CFS) and the courts, language Mercer said should reflect the thresholds already required elsewhere in Title 41. "Let's ensure that we don't have the state intervening unless…
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