HB 67 revises and clarifies administrative and tax qualification provisions for the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS). The bill directly affects TRS members, their employers, and beneficiaries by updating regulations for employer reporting duties, elective membership deferral, and the purchase of deferred elective service. It also revises mandatory distribution rules to conform with federal law and clarifies disability retirement allowance calculations. Additionally, the bill provides updated definitions for terms used within the TRS, such as "earned compensation."
HB 260 revises the professional stipends paid to Montana teachers who hold a current National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. The bill changes the stipend amounts from fixed dollar values to percentages of the state's quality educator payment, effectively providing an annual adjustment. Eligible full-time teachers in public schools, education cooperatives, and certain state facilities will receive a stipend of 50% of the quality educator payment, with those in high-poverty or impacted schools receiving 85%. The bill also adjusts the state's contribution percentages towards these stipends.
SB 347 revises medical resident licensure laws in Montana, directly affecting individuals undergoing medical training in the state. The bill removes unlicensed trainees from existing licensing exemptions, meaning they will now be required to obtain a license. It also revises definitions, including adding "PGY" (post-graduate year) and defining a "Resident" as someone enrolled in an approved residency program who holds a valid resident license to practice medicine. These changes clarify and update the qualifications and licensing requirements for medical residents.
HB 254 eliminates the requirement for applicants seeking licensure as professional employer organizations or groups in Montana, along with their controlling persons, to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks. Previously, these individuals were required to undergo fingerprint checks by the Montana Department of Justice and the federal bureau of investigation as a prerequisite for licensure. While removing the specific fingerprinting mandate, the bill still requires applicants to provide detailed background information and demonstrate good moral character, business integrity, and financial responsibility to the department.
SB 211 revises the emergency use of epinephrine in school settings. The bill expands the definition of "medication" that students with asthma, severe allergies, or anaphylaxis can possess and self-administer to include epinephrine nasal spray. It also allows public and nonpublic schools to maintain a stock supply of epinephrine nasal spray, in addition to autoinjectable epinephrine, for emergency administration by school nurses or other authorized personnel. These changes provide schools with additional options for responding to severe allergic reactions.
SB 279 enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact, which allows licensed dietitians and nutritionists to practice in multiple participating states through a "compact privilege" without needing to obtain a separate license in each state. This bill aims to improve public access to dietetics services and reduce administrative burdens for practitioners and state licensing authorities. It establishes uniform requirements for licensure portability, including criminal background checks, and supports military members and their spouses. The compact also enhances cooperation among states in regulating the profession and protecting public health and safety.
SB 110 revises laws concerning amusement rides and safety, directly affecting ride operators and the public. It mandates that all amusement rides undergo annual inspections by independent "qualified inspectors" who must certify the ride's safety based on recognized industry standards. Rides cannot operate for the public without a valid inspection certificate, and new inspections are required after major modifications. The bill also defines "serious injury or illness" and outlines operator responsibilities, including maintaining first-aid stations and ensuring staff are not under the influence.
HB 128 protects volunteer emergency service providers, such as firefighters and EMTs, from being terminated by their public or private employers. It prohibits employers from firing an employee solely for serving as a volunteer emergency provider, provided the employee notifies their employer of their volunteer status. If an employee is absent or late to work due to volunteer emergency service, they must notify their employer as soon as possible, and employers may request documentation of the emergency response. The bill clarifies that employees cannot claim regular pay for time spent on volunteer duties, and employers retain the right to determine if an employee can leave work to respond to an emergency. Employees whose employment is terminated in violation of these provisions may bring a civil action for remedies like reinstatement and back wages.
SB 233 enacts the Interstate Massage Compact, establishing a new multistate licensing program for massage therapists. This compact allows licensed massage therapists to practice in all participating member states with a single multistate license, increasing their professional mobility. It includes provisions for criminal background checks for multistate licensure and creates an interstate commission to administer the compact. The bill aims to improve public access to massage therapy services and enhance regulatory cooperation among states while ensuring public safety.
SB 212, known as the "Right to Compute Act," generally revises laws related to technology. It establishes a fundamental right for individuals to own and use computational resources, asserting that government restrictions on this right must be limited and narrowly tailored to a compelling public interest. The bill also requires deployers of critical artificial intelligence systems that control critical infrastructure facilities to develop a risk management policy. This affects individuals and entities using technology, as well as those responsible for managing AI in essential services.
SB 251 establishes confidentiality for all matters under investigation by the Office of the Child and Family Ombudsman. This means information received, collected, and maintained by the ombudsman's office cannot be disclosed or shared. However, there are exceptions: records may be disclosed to a court for in camera inspection if relevant to a legal issue, and a court can permit disclosure if necessary for a fair resolution. The bill also specifically ensures the identity of individuals who contact the ombudsman remains confidential, with a limited exception.
SB 248 amends Montana law concerning the confidentiality of child abuse and neglect investigation records. This bill specifically provides that state legislators' access to these Child Protective Services (CPS) records will now include any related drug testing results. The change expands the types of information legislators can review when examining child protection cases. This directly affects legislators by broadening their access to information within these records and impacts individuals whose drug testing results are part of CPS investigations.
