MT SB468

Establishes a statewide central registry to maintain information on individuals with substantiated determinations of child abuse or neglect, which may be disclosed during background checks for employment, licensure, or volunteer activities involving unsupervised contact with children.

Defines "substantiated" as a department determination by preponderance of the evidence that abuse or neglect occurred; individuals must be notified of consequences and their rights to request expungement.

Creates an expungement process allowing individuals to request removal from the registry after 2 years, requiring a written request with sworn affidavit showing good cause such as newly discovered evidence, changed circumstances, or case reunification.

Requires the department to review expungement requests within 30 days; denied requests may be appealed to district court, and individuals must wait 2 years between expungement requests if denied.

Mandates annual reporting to the legislature by September 1 on total registry entries, additions, expungement requests, grants, denials, and reasons for denials; effective date is July 1, 2025.