Week 11 Legislative Update:

March 15th-19th

 
Photo of Montana Capitol building.
 
 

Appropriations

The full Appropriations Committee took action on the budget late last week.  The Part B budget is largely as it was when it was acted upon by the subcommittee. Attempts to restore the cut to the IBC and increase the Medicaid provider rates were not successful. The full bill is expected to be heard by the full House on March 22.

Montana is expecting roughly $2.72 billion from the new American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law last Thursday. The House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Claims Committee are going to be meeting every day this week in multiple subcommittees to allocate funds for various needs. Some of the funds are allocated fairly specifically in ARPA, but there is also some flexibility.  Part B and Part D, which address the judiciary, corrections, and attorney general’s office will be meeting together at 8:00 each morning this week in Room 102. There is a stated desire to allocate funding for short-term projects, instead of to ongoing services, though there may be some exceptions. 

Click here for the full schedule. Be sure to check it often as we have seen the schedule change with little notice.

 

General Bills

Monday

At 3:00, the Senate Public Health and Safety Committee will hear HB 574, “Revise laws related to reporting on out-of-state placement of certain children.” Click here to read this bill. This is a committee bill, generated by the House Human Services Committee in response to the old and delayed information currently provided by the Department about kids from the child protection system or the juvenile justice system who are sent out of Montana for psychiatric care.  It is sponsored by Rep. Lenz and will be heard in Room 317.

Also at 3:00, the Senate Public Health and Safety Committee will hear HB 57, “Revise requirements related to CPS placements in congregate care.” Click here to read this bill. This bill will require district courts to conduct hearings regarding the therapeutic nature of placements of children 60 days after the removal. It is required by the federal Family First legislation. It is sponsored by Rep. Lenz and will be heard in Room 317.

Click here for the contact information for the Senate Public Health and Safety Committee.

Tuesday

At 8:00, the House Judiciary Committee will hear SB 361 “Generally revise laws to establish certificate of rehabilitation.” Click here to read this bill. This authorizes the issuance of a certificate of rehabilitation by a court to someone who has committed a felony and served their sentence provided that certain criteria are met. It is sponsored by Sen. Hoven and will be heard in Room 137.

Click here for the contact information for the House Judiciary Committee.

At 3:00, the House Human Services Committee will hear SB 155, “Provide for equal access to anatomical gifts and organ transplantation.” Click here to read this bill. This bill provides a prohibition against discrimination based on disability for anatomical gifts and organ transplants.  It is sponsored by Sen. Jacobsen and will be heard in Room 152.

Click here for the contact information for the House Human Services Committee.

Wednesday

At 3:00, the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee will hear HB 233 “Revise funding for students with disabilities.” Click here to read this bill. This will would provide reimbursement for school districts who provide services for certain students with disabilities up until age 21.  It is sponsored by Rep. Anderson and will be heard in Room 422.

Click here for the contact information for the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee.

At 3:00, the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee will hear HB 341 “Require that Medicaid appropriations be used only for Medicaid expenditures.” Click here to read this bill. This bill would restrict the executive from using appropriated Medicaid funds for other purposes.  It is sponsored by Rep. Regier and will be heard in Room 317. 

That Committee will also hear HB 291 “Requiring coverage of amplification devices, services for kids with hearing loss.” Click here to read this bill. It is sponsored by Rep. Funk and will also be heard in Room 317.

Click here for the contact information for the Senate Public Health and Safety Committee.

 

How to Contact Legislators During the Session

Online Messaging

Use the online messaging form to message a legislator (click button below). This is one of the quickest and most effective ways of contacting your legislator. 

Phone Call

Regular office hours during the session are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays. Callers may leave messages for legislators or acquire general legislative information by calling the Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. Callers may leave messages for up to 5 individual legislators or 1 legislative committee per call.

Not sure who represents you in the Montana Legislature? Click Here 

 

To listen to audio/video streaming of committee hearings, click here.

 

Stay Informed

We will be posting an electronic newsletter each Friday during the 2021 legislative session. We will give you information about upcoming budget and general bill hearings, developments for other bills we are following and action alerts when these bills are coming up for votes.  

 

If you have accessibility needs and would like to receive the newsletter in another format, please contact Disability Rights Montana at advocate@disabilityrightsmt.org or call 800-245-4743.

 

Do You Have the Assistive Technology You Need to Participate in the 2021 Legislative Session?

Do you have what you need to share your story or voice support of bills that impact the lives of Montanans with disabilities? Borrow equipment from MonTECH for 30-60 days so you'll be prepared to write, call, or testify.

MonTECH houses a wide range of equipment to help you get connected. Borrow iPads, adapted keyboards, hands-free mice, laptops, wearable speakers, headphones, webcams, voice amplifiers, or devices that allow hands-free video calls with motion tracking. Spotty or nonexistent internet? If you’re in range of a cellular tower, borrow a Jetpack Mobile Hotspot and connect up to 15 devices! MonTECH provides free shipping and return shipping anywhere in Montana, and serves any Montanan who has a disability (including learning disabilities). The program is easy to use and does not require medical verification of a disability to borrow this type of equipment. Call or write if you have questions or need help accessing our program: montech@mso.umt.edu, 1-877-243-5511. We look forward to helping ensure you are heard during the 2021 legislative session!

 
 

Protection & Advocacy Service Training

We are more than happy to provide training and workshops to others. We welcome nonprofits, clients, workplaces, and more, to reach out to us if you would like for us to present about our services, and how we can provide assistance. Call 406-449-2344 or email Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org.

 

"Advocating for justice is our individual and collective responsibility."

Executive Director,
Disability Rights Montana
Bernie Franks-Ongoy
406-449-2344

Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org

 

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