House joint resolution NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY L. Sheldon-Galloway

By Request of the State-Tribal Relations Committee

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of missing youth; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 69th legislature.

WHEREAS, 80% of all missing persons in Montana are youth under 18 years of age.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to examine the issue of missing youth for the purpose of determining how the State of Montana can reduce the number of missing youth and increase the chances of quickly locating missing youth.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the interim committee:

(1)        collaborate with the Department of Justice and the missing persons specialist, youth courts and juvenile probation officers, the Office of Public Instruction, the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, the Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission, tribal governments, and youth organizations in examining this issue;

(2)        gather information about missing youth cases and reasons why youth are reported missing;

(3)        utilize data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey;

(4)        analyze rates and data of missing youth among specific subgroups, including but not limited to indigenous youth, youth in foster care, and youth who go missing more than once; and

(5)        examine efforts made by other states and jurisdictions to reduce the number of youth reported missing and decrease the amount of time for missing youth to be located and determine whether these approaches warrant adoption in Montana.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2024.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 69th Legislature.