Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SJ31: Interim study of mandatory reporting
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect in the state; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
From the engrossed text:
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE STATE; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect was instituted to protect children; and WHEREAS, there are cases in which children are genuinely unsafe in their homes, and reporting is the most appropriate response we currently have to effectively address their needs, but in many cases an alternative response would be more effective in addressing the concern; and WHEREAS, a wide spectrum of Montanans who interact with children are required by statute to report suspected child abuse and neglect, and mandatory reporters should demonstrate a solid understanding of what rises to the level of making a report; and WHEREAS, a family's involvement with the Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Public Health and Human Services is generally initiated by a mandatory reporter's call to the state's child abuse or neglect centralized intake hotline; and WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2024, the hotline received 28,812 calls, screened out 7,382 calls, entered 21,430 calls into the department's system, investigated 6,544 calls, and of the nearly 29,000 calls alleging abuse or neglect, only 1,276 …
Sponsors
- Lenz, Dennis (R, 25) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Committee
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (S) Transmitted to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (April 24, 2025): 36 yea, 14 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 23, 2025): 37 yea, 10 nay, passed
Subjects: Crimes, Interim Study Bills, Minors, Discrimination, Family Law, Interim Study Resolutions
Common questions
- What is SJ31?
- SJ31 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Interim study of mandatory reporting.
- What does SJ31 do?
- In its own words: A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect in the state; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
- What is the status of SJ31?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Committee (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SJ31?
- Lenz, Dennis (R, 25).
- Where is the official record for SJ31?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0498
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.