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Committee debates staffing expansion for Child and Family Ombudsman office; lawmakers split on cost

Montana Senate Committee on Finance and Claims
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Summary

Senate Bill 250 would add intake and data-analysis positions to the Child and Family Ombudsman office to strengthen oversight of child welfare; an amendment halving proposed FTEs passed but the final motion to pass the bill as amended failed and the item was tabled after roll-call votes revealed committee opposition.

Senate Bill 250, sponsored by Senator Dennis Lenz, would expand the Child and Family Ombudsman office by adding intake specialists, an associate ombudsman and research/data analysts to allow the office to analyze statutory reporting and produce systemic reviews.

Ombudsman Kaci Gaub-Bruno told the committee the office currently operates with only one staffer and has a backlog of cases (36 waiting for review; a record month produced 27…

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