SB18

Montana SB18 revises the definition of child abuse or neglect to exclude certain factors from solely constituting harm to a child.

Montana SB18 revises the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to exclude certain factors from solely constituting harm to a child. It clarifies that substance use by a parent or guardian, a child's obesity, disorderly living conditions, or other factors closely related to economic status do not alone constitute "physical or psychological harm to a child." The bill also specifies that abandonment does not include the voluntary surrender of a child to the department solely because of parental inability to access publicly funded services.