State of Montana Newsroom
Children and Families Committee to Wrap up Work on Three Studies
The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will decide on Aug. 28 whether to send the 2021 Legislature any proposals related to child protective services, senior and long-term care services, and guardianship laws.
The committee will meet by video conference at 8 a.m. on Aug. 28 for its final scheduled meeting of the interim.
In addition to completing its three interim studies, the committee will hear updates from the Department of Public Health and Human Services on a number of topics, including the impacts of the coronavirus on the agency and the status of the Medicaid expansion program.
For the study of child protective services, representatives of the judicial system will discuss the potential impacts of bill drafts that would speed up the initial hearing in child abuse and neglect cases. Scheduled speakers represent county attorneys, public defenders, and district courts.
DPHHS also will present its strategic plan for putting the Family First Prevention Services Act into effect. That federal law revamps several aspects of the child welfare system.
For its study of a 2017 uniform law on guardianships, the committee will consider two bill drafts. One would require consideration of less restrictive alternatives to guardianship. The other would revise monitoring and reporting requirements for guardians of adults.
The committee will review four bill drafts stemming from its senior and long-term care study. One bill would clarify Medicaid eligibility requirements for some individuals. The other three bill drafts focus on Medicaid home and community-based services waivers. They would establish legislative intent for the waivers, lengthen the notification period for termination of waiver services, and require rulemaking for substantive program changes.
Members of the public can comment on the bill drafts and other matters in the committee's jurisdiction by either submitting written comments before the meeting or by joining the meeting by phone or computer on Aug. 28. Instructions for providing public comment are available by clicking on the Meeting Information button on the committee's website.
The meeting will be streamed live at http://leg.mt.gov and will be broadcast on the Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN). For more information about the meeting, including an agenda and related materials, visit the committee's website or contact committee researcher Sue O'Connell.
Committee Website: www.leg.mt.gov/cfhhs
Committee Staff: soconnell@mt.gov or 406-444-3597