Montana HB 303

Montana HB 303: Montana-2017-HB303-Introduced.pdf

“Several people testified Monday in support of a bill that would create a 17-member commission to review child deaths and near deaths in Montana.

House Bill 303 is carried by Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings. It’s similar to a bill she carried last session that failed after it was tabled by the same committee Kelker presented the bill to Monday.

The bill is one of several recommended by the Protect Montana Kids Commission, a group formed by Gov. Steve Bullock in 2015 to improve services to children and families delivered by the Child and Family Services division of the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The number of children who enter into the state’s child protection system has exploded over the past few years, an increase many attribute to skyrocketing rates of methamphetamine abuse.

In 2015, there were more than 35,000 calls to the state child abuse hotline. That led to more than 9,000 investigations by Child and Family Services employees. More than 3,000 children are in foster care, or double the number from 2008.

The commission would be made up of representatives from state government, law enforcement, the judicial branch, attorneys, parents and others. It would be administered by the Department of Justice in consultation with the health department.

Those who spoke in support of the bill said it would help collect information that the division could use to prevent child deaths in the future and transparency in the work Child and Family Services does.

The bill failed last session, in part over concerns about keeping information about cases private. Kelker said the parts of the bill that ensure information about families and children stays within the committee have been tightened up.

Robin Turner, public policy and legal director at Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said a similar commission that reviews domestic violence fatalities and near-fatalities has helped people identify trends and deliver better services, saving lives.

Former Billings City Councilwoman Jani McCall, who is on the Protect Montana Kids Commission, told the committee “transparency leads to more understanding, better knowledge, and that in turn is going to help us create better practices, better policies, keep our kids safe.”

Kelker said she did not yet have a fiscal note for the bill. With a tight state budget, many Republicans have said new programs or legislation with big price tags could have trouble getting passed.

“In this 65th legislative session when money is tight, this is one bill that should have bipartisan support,” Kelker said. “This year the Montana Legislature should step up, do the right thing and get this commission up and running.””

Bill to create commission to review child deaths introduced[Lake Expo 1/31/17 by Holly Michels]

REFORM Puzzle Piece