Senate Bill No. 285

Introduced By benedict



A Bill for an Act entitled: An Act allowing county adult literacy funding for persons who are 16 years of age or older and not attending school; and amending section 20-7-714, MCA.



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:



Section 1.  Section 20-7-714, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-7-714.   County adult literacy programs -- authorization to levy tax and establish fund. (1) (a) The governing body of a county may, in its discretion, establish a fund and levy up to 1 mill on each dollar of taxable property in the county for the support of county literacy programs that give first priority to providing direct instruction to adults. The tax levy is in addition to all other tax levies and is subject to limitations on property taxes set forth in 15-10-402.

(b)  The fund may be used only for the support of adult literacy programs within the county.

(2)  (a) If a county levies a property tax for adult literacy programs, the county governing body shall appoint a county adult literacy board to administer the expenditure of funds from the county adult literacy fund established in subsection (1).

(b)  The county adult literacy board shall coordinate all adult literacy programs receiving county adult literacy funds. The board may adopt policies concerning program standards and financial accountability for organizations receiving adult literacy funds. The board may require that adult literacy programs match adult literacy funds with federal, state, or private money. The board may, with the concurrence of the appropriate county officials, arrange for county in-kind services to support adult literacy programs.

(c)  County adult literacy funding may be expended only on literacy programs for persons who are at least 19 years of age and whose high school class has graduated 16 years of age or older and who are not regularly enrolled, full-time pupils for the purposes of ANB computation."

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