Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 41. MINORS

CHAPTER 3. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Part 2. Reports and Investigations

Reports To Office Of Child And Family Ombudsman

41-3-209. Reports to office of child and family ombudsman. (1) The department shall report to the office of the child and family ombudsman

within 1 business day, a death of a child who, within the last 12 months:

(a) had been the subject of a report of abuse or neglect;

(b) had been the subject of an investigation of alleged abuse or neglect;

(c) was in out-of-home care at the time of the child's death; or

(d) had received services from the department under a written prevention plan;

(2) The department shall report to the office of the child and family ombudsman within 5 business days:

(a) any criminal act concerning the abuse or neglect of a child;

(b) any critical incident, including but not limited to elopement, a suicide attempt, rape, nonroutine hospitalizations, and neglect or abuse by a substitute care provider, involving a child who is receiving services from the department pursuant to this chapter; or

(c) a third report received within the last 12 months about a child at risk of or who is suspected of being abused or neglected.

(3) The department shall report to the ombudsman as required under 41-3-1212 on its response to findings, conclusions, and recommendations made in cases investigated by the ombudsman.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 354, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 19, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 411, L. 2021.