MontanaHB 62569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Withhold entitlement share for non-compliance with child abuse reporting requirements

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Counties lose 2% for missed child-abuse reports

The Department of Revenue reduces a county’s state entitlement share payment by 2% when the Attorney General reports the county did not meet mandatory child abuse reporting rules. The cut applies to payments the county otherwise receives under state law. This penalty is triggered by the Attorney General’s notice of noncompliance.

Stronger county reporting on child sex abuse

County attorneys must collect all case notes and records for reports or investigations of child sexual abuse or exploitation when the alleged offender is age 12 or older. Agencies must keep sending records during the investigation, any abuse and neglect case, and any prosecution. When the Department sends a report, the county attorney must send the reporter a written receipt with the date and the child’s age and gender; if the report was anonymous, the notice goes to the Department; no notice is needed when law enforcement made the report to the county attorney. County attorneys must keep related records for 25 years. They must report to the Attorney General by January 1 and June 1 each year with case IDs, key dates, charges or declinations, convictions and sentences, and the number of certifications. The Attorney General sets a confidential report form that can collect data for up to five years, until charges are filed or prosecution is declined. If a deadline is missed, the Attorney General must notify local officials within 10 days and allow 30 days to fix it, then report noncompliance. By August 15 each year, the Attorney General gives an aggregate update to the Law and Justice Interim Committee and identifies noncompliant counties to the Department of Revenue.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Stacy Zinn
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Barry Usher
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 183 • No: 113

House vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 30 • No: 20

House vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 30 • No: 18

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 63 • No: 36

House vote • 3/4/2025