MACO LEGISLATIVE UPDATE VOLUME 23, NO. 17 APRIL 17, 2015 MACO & THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE The Montana Association of Counties’ website has a section dedicated to helping members th The Montana Association of keep track of the happenings during the 64 Montana Legislative Session: Counties (MACo) publishes this http://www.mtcounties.org/legislative/sessions/2015/2015-legislative-session. In this section weekly bulletin containing you'll find MACo’s resolutions, links to pertinent bills, an archive of our weekly Legislative summary descriptions of bills of Updates, hearing calendars, committee listings, legislator contact information, and more. interest to local government officials. Each issue lists only the bills that have been introduced 2015 PROJECTED SESSION CALENDAR during the week. Please save this message or print it for future reference. As revised by legislative leadership — March 31, 2015 Please note: Legislative leadership holds the authority to further revise the schedule, Previous issues of the MACo including the days the Legislature meets and the proposed breaks. Legislative Update can be found on our website’s legislative page. In accordance with 5-2-103, MCA, each regular session of the Legislature convenes on the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year or, if January 1 is a Monday, on the first Copies of bills are sent to County Wednesday. Clerks & Recorders and also can be found here. Introduction deadlines: Generally, bills and resolutions must be introduced within 2 legislative days after delivery. JR 40-50, H40-10. “General bills” is used to denote all bills, except appropriation or revenue bills, and all joint CONTACTING LEGISLATORS resolutions. Legislative Services Division Notes: Deadline dates are determined according to legislative days. Phone: (406) 444-3064 Fax: (406) 444-3036 Certain bills and resolutions relating to administrative rules may be transmitted at any time Mail: PO Box 201706 during the session. JR 40-200(3). Helena, MT 59620-1706 Senators Jan. 5: 64th Legislative Session begins Fax: (406) 444-4875 Jan. 20: Last day to request General Bills Mail: P.O. Box 200500 Helena, MT 59620-0500 Jan. 26: Last day to request Revenue Bills Feb. 17: Last day for Committee to request General Bills & Resolutions Representatives Feb. 27: Transmittal of General Bills to other Chamber & Last day to request Fax: (406) 444-4825 Appropriation Bills Mail: P.O. Box 200400 Helena, MT 59620-0400 Feb. 28-Mar 4: Transmittal Break March 23: Transmittal of Revenue-Estimating Joint Resolutions & Last day to Many legislators have their own request Study Resolutions email addresses, which can be March 25: Last day to request bills proposing Referenda or for Committee to found here. request Revenue Bills March 31: Transmittal of Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills, and Bills Proposing CONTACTING MACO Referenda & Last day to request Committee Bills to implement House Bill 2 Phone: (406) 449-4360 April 11: Transmittal of amendments to General Bills Fax: (406) 442-5238 Email: [email protected] April 20: Transmittal of amendments to Appropriation Bills, Revenue Mail: 2715 Skyway Drive Bills, Revenue-Estimating Resolution, and Bills Proposing Helena, MT 59602-1213 Referenda Web: http://www.mtcounties.org April 25: Transmittal of Interim Study Resolutions May 1: Sine Die April 30: 90th Legislative Day – Sine Die. th 64 Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update Page 1 SCHEDULED HEARINGS Currently Senate Local Government Committee meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m. in Room 405. The House Local Government Committee meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. in Room 172. MACo bills are highlighted green, priority bills are highlighted blue, and watch bills are highlighted yellow. MONDAY, APRIL 20 (NO OTHER HEARINGS SCHEDULED AS OF YET) Time Committee Room Bill No. Short Title Sponsor Interim study of MUS computer systems 3:00 PM (H) Education 137 HJ 32 Tom Woods (D) HD 62 efficiency 3:00 PM (H) Human Services 152 HJ 31 Study workers' compensation fraud Zach Brown (D) HD 63 Revise laws related to defensive 3:00 PM (H) Human Services 152 SB 207 Bruce Tutvedt (R) SD 3 medicine Resolution to confirm Jonathan Motl as 3:00 PM (S) State Administration 335 SR 53 Jon C Sesso (D) SD 37 commissioner of political practices 2015 PROPOSED LEGISLATION Below are three different lists of proposed legislation for the 2015 Legislative Session that have been introduced thus far. The MACo Resolutions & Introduced Legislation list includes bills that are associated with MACo Resolutions. The MACo Priority Watch List includes bills that we are watching very closely or with which we may have some involvement. The MACo Watch List includes bills that are on our radar. MACO RESOLUTIONS & INTRODUCED LEGISLATION Bill No. Short Title Res. No. Sponsor Status Revise laws related to livestock loss 2014-15 Mike Cuffe (R) HD 2 (H) Returned from Enrolling HB 145 AN ACT CREATING A LIVESTOCK LOSS REDUCTION RESTRICTED ACCOUNT; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-3110, 15-1-122, 81-1-110, AND 81-1-112, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE. Generally revise laws applicable to county 2014-11 Rob Cook (R) HD 18 (H) Transmitted to Governor government AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS APPLICABLE TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT; AMENDING THE THRESHOLD FOR CERTAIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDITS; AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF "POLITICAL SUBDIVISION"; REQUIRING CERTAIN BOARDS, DISTRICTS, AND COMMISSIONS TO SUBMIT THEIR MINUTES TO THE COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER FOR ELECTRONIC STORAGE AT NO COST; REQUIRING A PUBLIC LOCATION FOR POSTING COUNTY INFORMATION; ADJUSTING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY CREATED BY A NONPARTISAN COMMISSIONER; AMENDING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SETTING CONSOLIDATED OFFICE SALARIES; REQUIRING THAT A PLAN BE ADOPTED FOR A HB 334 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND; REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT A COUNTY TREASURER MAKE AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT TO THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT; AMENDING REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING WHEN A COUNTY MUST SUBMIT INDEBTEDNESS OR LIABILITY TO A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY; REVISING THE ALLOWABLE METHODS OF ASSESSMENT FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS; REVISING DEADLINES FOR A RESOLUTION LEVYING COSTS IN A LIGHTING DISTRICT; REVISING COUNTY LAND AND ROAD SURVEYOR REQUIREMENTS AND COUNTY ENGINEER REQUIREMENTS; REVISING THE BODY EMPLOYING A WEED COORDINATOR; REVISING THE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION AND WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR TERMINATION OF A DEPUTY SHERIFF; REPEALING REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING COUNTY TREASURER RECEIPTS; REPEALING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-7-503, 2-9-101, 7-4-2104, 7-4-2106, 7-4- 2312, 7-4-2631, 7-4-2801, 7-6-616, 7-6-2801, 7-7-2101, 7-11-1024, 7-12-2202, 7-14-2606, 7-22-2101, 7-32-2107, 7-32-2108, AND 20-9-212, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 7-6-2116 AND 15-10-203, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. th 64 Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update Page 2 MACO RESOLUTIONS & INTRODUCED LEGISLATION (CONTINUED) Bill No. Short Title Res. No. Sponsor Status Extend historic county road or utility right-of-way 2014-12 Bruce Tutvedt (R) SD 3 (S) Transmitted to Governor application dates SB 229 AN ACT EXTENDING THE DATE BY WHICH A PERSON OR COUNTY MAY APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION FOR A HISTORIC RIGHT-OF-WAY DEED AND EXTENDING THE TERMINATION DATE; AMENDING SECTION 77-1-130, MCA; AMENDING SECTIONS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 7, CHAPTER 325, LAWS OF 2011; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Establish process to allow counties to enter into 2014-08 Edward Buttrey (R) SD 11 (C) Draft On Hold development agreements LC1554 THERE IS NO LANGUAGE. Provide for inventory of all county and public roads 2014-07 Tom Jacobson (D) HD 21 (C) Draft On Hold LC1662 THERE IS NO LANGUAGE. MACO RESOLUTIONS/LEGISLATION THAT MISSED GENERAL BILL TRANSMITTAL DEADLINE Bill No. Short Title Res. No. Sponsor Status Allow county commission to regulate Kirk Wagoner (R) HD (H) Missed Deadline for General 2014-05 compression brake usage 75 Bill Transmittal* HB 534 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ALLOWING A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO REGULATE THE USE OF COMPRESSION BRAKES; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF COUNTY REGULATIONS ON COMPRESSION BRAKES; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 7-14-2113, 61-9-321, AND 61-9-521, MCA." Revise what employment by a PERS retiree is (S) Missed Deadline for General 2014-14 Douglas Kary (R) SD 22 considered active member service Bill Transmittal* SB 121 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ELIMINATING SERVICE BY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AS EMPLOYMENT COVERED BY THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF RETIREE REEMPLOYMENT LIMITATIONS AND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 19-3-1106, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." COMPLETED MACO BILLS: CHAPTER & EFFECTIVE DATE Bill No. Short Title Res. No. Sponsor Chapter & Effective Date Extend sunset on enhanced 9-1-1 fund 2014-09 Keith Regier (R) HD 4 Chapter 35, Effective 07/01/2015 distribution HB 112 AN ACT EXTENDING THE SUNSET ON WIRELESS 9-1-1 FUNDING FOR LESS-POPULATED COUNTIES; AMENDING SECTION 10-4-313, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Clarify laws pertaining to assignment of Tom Steenberg 2014-02 Chapter 101, Effective 03/20/2015 road/street addresses (D) HD 99 HB 187 AN ACT CLARIFYING LAWS PERTAINING TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF ROAD AND STREET ADDRESSES; SPECIFYING THAT COUNTIES MAY DESIGNATE STREET NAMES AND ADDRESSES IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS;