Rule 37.47.610 - CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING TO CONTEST SUBSTANTIATED REPORTS(1) The subject of a child abuse or neglect report that is determined to be substantiated may request a fair hearing.(2) The request for a fair hearing must be in writing and be sent within 30 days after the date of mailing of the department's initial notice of its substantiation determination. The request must be sent to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Legal Affairs, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604.(3) Upon receipt of the request for a fair hearing, the department will conduct an informal review of the substantiated report and the case record information. (a) The informal review is limited to the records and documentation relevant to the case, and any written material provided by the subject. The informal review is not subject to the provisions of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, Title 2, chapter 4, MCA.(b) If, after the informal review, the department determines that the substantiated report is in error, the department will amend the finding to reflect that the report is unfounded, unsubstantiated, or founded. The subject will be notified of the decision.(c) If, after the informal review, the department determines that the substantiated report is not in error, the department will notify the department's Office of Fair Hearings so that a hearing date and time may be scheduled.(4) The fair hearing will be conducted pursuant to the procedures specified in ARM 37.5.304, 37.5.307, 37.5.313, 37.5.322, 37.5.325, 37.5.328, 37.5.331, 37.5.334, and 37.5.337, subject to the limitations specified in ARM 37.47.615.(5) Hearsay statements of the child victim are admissible as evidence in the fair hearing on a substantiated child abuse or neglect report. The administrative law judge will determine the weight to give each child victim's hearsay statement. The factors to be considered in determining the weight of the child hearsay statement include: (a) the attributes of the child making the hearsay statement; (b) the witness relating the child's hearsay statement; (c) the child's statement itself; and (d) any other factors that provide for the reliability of the child's statement.(6) Hearsay statements of persons other than the child victim are admissible in accordance with Montana Rules of Evidence and relevant case law.(7) The hearing officer's proposal for decision is subject to review under ARM 37.5.331.(8) A fair hearing is not available for reports that are determined to be unfounded, unsubstantiated, or founded.Mont. Admin. r. 37.47.610
NEW, 2004 MAR p. 2409, Eff. 10/8/04; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 539, Eff. 2/26/10; AMD, 2015 MAR p. 306, Eff. 3/27/2015AUTH: 2-4-201, 41-3-208, MCA; IMP: 2-4-201, 2-4-612, 41-3-203, 41-3-204, MCA