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Bill on child‑protection specialist conduct draws DPHHS and union opposition
Summary
Sen. Daniel Emerich’s SB 272 would codify limited rules of conduct for child‑protection specialists, prompted by a cited case. DPHHS and the Montana Federation of Public Employees opposed the bill as unnecessary and duplicative of existing conduct policies and complaint processes.
Senate Bill 272, introduced by Sen. Daniel Emerich (Senate District 11), would add narrow statutory prohibitions on conduct by child‑protection specialists — for example, barring use of threats to bring criminal charges to deter a person from contesting a child‑welfare action and barring denial of foster or guardian placement solely because someone advised parents or testified publicly.
Emerich said the bill grew from a case in which parents alleged CPS threatened criminal consequences and excluded a family member who had advised the parents; he described the…
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