HB 744 authorizes the use of speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides in the state. These aides are not required to be licensed, but they must work under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist for a minimum of 20% of their time. The bill specifies that aides cannot perform work requiring independent professional judgment. It also grants the board the authority to establish the qualifications and scope of work for these aide roles through rules.
HB 543 repeals the termination date for laws requiring the reporting and disclosure of violence against healthcare employees. Previously, these reporting requirements were set to expire on a specific date. By repealing that sunset clause, this bill makes the reporting and disclosure obligations permanent. This ensures that information about violence affecting healthcare workers will continue to be collected and shared indefinitely.
HB 100 generally revises public record laws, establishing new requirements and deadlines for state public agencies, excluding local governments, when responding to information requests. The bill outlines different response protocols for executive and non-executive branch agencies, including specific timeframes for acknowledging and fulfilling requests. It also revises the fees agencies can charge, allowing them to cover actual costs, including staff time, and permits agencies to require estimated fee payment upfront. Additionally, the bill mandates executive branch agencies to publish their request processes, statistics, and retain requests and responses for two years. Individuals may file a court action if agencies fail to meet the established response deadlines.
HB 62 generally revises laws related to the administration of public employee retirement systems (MPERA). It clarifies rules for disability retirement, including when benefits can begin and that duty-related benefits do not automatically convert to normal retirement at age. The bill assesses interest on payroll reporting errors that require retroactive contributions and allows for prorating service purchases if installment payments cease. Additionally, it revises definitions of "allowance" and "compensation," aligns working retiree limits across various systems, and updates required minimum distribution rules to comply with federal law, affecting public employees and retirees in these systems.
HB 743 establishes new reporting requirements for allegations of exploitation involving incapacitated persons or vulnerable adults. It mandates that the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) forward credible exploitation reports to the relevant county attorney. County attorneys must then annually report the status of these cases, including charges filed, convictions, or declinations, to the Attorney General. The Attorney General compiles this data and reports aggregated information by county to a legislative committee each year, enhancing oversight of elder exploitation cases. The bill also revises the content required in initial reports of exploitation.
HB 713 revises municipal zoning laws, outlining procedures for cities and towns to establish, amend, or repeal zoning regulations, restrictions, and boundaries. It requires public hearings with notice for most zoning changes, but allows for immediate adoption of zone map boundary changes by resolution. The bill also permits municipalities to conduct joint hearings for annexation and zoning under specific conditions, streamlining the process for newly annexed properties. Additionally, it repeals a previous method that allowed for citizen protest of zoning alterations.
HB 589 revises education standards for peace officers in Montana, affecting individuals seeking to become peace officers and the agencies that employ them. The bill expands where the mandatory peace officer basic course can be completed. In addition to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, a qualified law enforcement academy administered by an accredited Montana college or university may now provide this training. These alternative academies must have their curriculum and training methods approved by both a Montana state or local law enforcement agency and the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council, ensuring they meet comparable standards.
Senate Bill 257 revises the permit laws for the Smith River waterway. It increases the cost for nonresidents to purchase a bonus point for the Smith River permit lottery from $50 to $125. This change directly affects nonresidents applying for permits to float and camp on the Smith River. The additional revenue generated from these bonus points will be deposited into the Smith River corridor enhancement account, which funds projects to protect and improve the river's natural beauty, recreational values, fisheries, and wildlife habitat.
HB 763 revises Montana's block management program, which helps landowners provide public access for hunting on private and public lands. The bill allows the Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt simplified rules for agreements where landowners only provide access to adjacent public lands. For these specific agreements, the commission can use flat fee payments not based on hunting days and consider the public land access opportunity as a benefit. The bill also establishes a $25,000 annual payment cap for landowners participating in these public lands access-only agreements.
HB 427 requires the Department of Labor and Industry or local building departments to provide the specific text or citation of building code sections they are relying on to delay a permit application or stop a construction project. If requested by the permit applicant or builder, this information must be provided within seven calendar days. Failure to provide the requested code sections within this timeframe waives their application to that specific project. Individuals aggrieved by the failure to provide this information may file a civil action for relief, including compensatory damages, court costs, and attorney fees.
HB 271 revises laws concerning executive exemptions to public records requests, aiming to replace a common law privilege with a statutory framework. It allows the Governor to assert a limited executive exemption for specific information only when their individual privacy interest clearly outweighs the merits of public disclosure, requiring the exemption to be narrowly tailored. The bill defines "confidential information" restrictively and sets a maximum duration of 60 days for an exemption to last. Additionally, it requires the award of costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party in public records litigation.
SB 74 generally revises existing marijuana laws, affecting licensed marijuana businesses, their owners, and the regulatory framework in the state. It updates definitions for terms such as "retail price" for tax purposes and "controlling beneficial owner." The bill removes probationary licensing options for marijuana testing laboratories and revises licensing fees for marijuana manufacturers. Additionally, it modifies requirements for property owner permissions on license renewals, adjusts marijuana hotline reporting, and permits a variance in the measurement of certain marijuana products like capsules and tinctures.
