Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Welfare Court Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate prolongs work on dependency‑neglect task force but tables bill after divided vote
Summary
Senate Bill 268 would renew and continue the dependency and neglect (D&N) task force that studied improvements to the state’s D&N court processes. Committee discussion highlighted prior interim work, limited legislative results to date and mixed views about another study cycle; the bill was tabled after executive action.
Senate Bill 268, a bill to renew Montana’s dependency and neglect task force and continue work on possible D&N court reforms, was discussed in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee with proponents describing prior interim work and varying committee members questioning the value of continuing the study.
Sponsor testimony said the prior task force studied whether to create a statewide D&N court and otherwise worked on making the existing D&N court process more efficient, including changes to the timeline and interplay of show‑cause and five‑day hearings. The sponsor told the committee that the task force produced discussion and some proposals but that one larger proposal — a statewide D&N court — did not gain traction during the interim.
Angie Carter (financial director, legislative branch) appeared as an informational witness on the fiscal note. Brian Smith, public defender division administrator, also was available for questions about the task force’s court process work.
During executive action a motion to pass the bill failed on roll call (7 yes, 15 no). A subsequent motion to reverse that vote and table the bill carried, and the committee tabled Senate Bill 268.
Why it matters: the task force’s work relates to child welfare and court procedures in dependency and neglect cases; proponents argued continued study could yield process improvements, while some members said the interim review had not produced tangible savings or reforms and expressed reluctance to fund further study without clearer returns.
Outcome: committee tabled Senate Bill 268 during executive action after a roll‑call vote on passage failed (7‑15) and a later motion to table prevailed.
