HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – After a turbulent journey, the bill named after Hannah Harris, who was found murdered on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 2013, passed the Senate 37 to 13 Tuesday.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports House Bill 21, also known as “Hanna’s Act,” would create a special position in the state Department of Justice that would investigate all missing persons cases in the state. The bill’s carrier, Democratic Senator Diane Sands of Missoula, says the bill is key to addressing what she calls the “crisis” of missing Montanans.
“This person who has those skills and relationships to be able to cut through all the bureaucratic red tape and make sure we do everything we can to find those people who are missing or murdered.”
The Senate Finance and Claims Committee had recently re-added language that forces the DOJ to create the position. Republican Senator Jennifer Fielder of Thompson Falls voted against the changed bill.
“This is a job description that we are putting into statute. That leaves no flexibility for the position to adapt and adjust. Unless, you come back next session and run another bill at the expense of the taxpayers.”
The House will need to vote to adopt Senate amendments to “Hanna’s Act” before it becomes law.
