1. (1) The director of the department shall appoint a qualified person to act as an Indian child welfare specialist.

2. (2) The duties of the specialist include:

   1. (a) developing Indian foster homes and other Indian placement resources;
   2. (b) providing technical advice to tribal, state, and county agencies and district courts on matters pertaining to Indian child welfare;
   3. (c) providing assistance in negotiating cooperative agreements to provide foster care services to Indian children;
   4. (d) conducting training seminars on implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1901, et seq.);
   5. (e) applying for and accepting grants and other funds for Indian child welfare activities;
   6. (f) developing and maintaining a list of attorneys to represent indigent parents and Indian custodians in Indian child welfare proceedings;
   7. (g) making recommendations to the department on legislation and rules concerning Indian child welfare matters; and
   8. (h) performing other duties concerning Indian child welfare matters as determined by the director.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 259, L. 1987; Sec. 53-4-117, MCA 1989; redes. 52-2-117 by Code Commissioner, 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 144, L. 1995.