SENATE BILL NO. 480
INTRODUCED BY D. BERRY
AN ACT ESTABLISHING MONTANA AS A MEMBER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION; PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION AND ITS COMMITTEES; AMENDING SECTION 5-11-301, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Legislative findings. (1) The legislature finds that there is a new emerging global economy in which countries and regions located in specific areas of the world are forging new cooperative arrangements.
(2) The legislature finds that these new cooperative arrangements are increasing the competitiveness of the participating countries and regions, thus increasing the economic benefits and the overall quality of life for the citizens of the individual countries and regions.
(3) The legislature also finds that the Pacific Northwest states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory of Canada are in a strategic position to act together as a region, thus increasing the overall competitiveness of the individual states, provinces, and territory that will provide substantial economic benefits for all of their citizens.
Section 2. Participation in Pacific Northwest economic region. The Pacific Northwest economic region is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the state of Montana as a party and is in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of this agreement.
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION
ARTICLE I -- Policy and Purpose
(1) States, provinces, and territories participating in the Pacific Northwest economic region shall seek to develop and establish policies that:
(a) promote greater regional collaboration among the eight entities;
(b) enhance the overall competitiveness of the region in international and domestic markets;
(c) increase the economic well-being of all citizens in the region; and
(d) improve the quality of life of the citizens of the Pacific Northwest.
(2) (a) States, provinces, and territories recognize that there are many public policy areas in which cooperation and joint efforts would be mutually beneficial. These areas include but are not limited to:
(i) international trade;
(ii) economic development;
(iii) human resources;
(iv) the environment and natural resources;
(v) energy; and
(vi) education.
(b) Parties to this agreement shall work diligently to establish collaborative activity in these and other appropriate policy areas in which cooperation is considered to be worthwhile and of benefit to the participating entities.
(c) Participating states, provinces, and territories also agree that there are areas in which cooperation may not be feasible.
(3) The substantive actions of the Pacific Northwest economic region may take the form of uniform legislation enacted by two or more states, provinces, or territories or policy initiatives endorsed as appropriate by participating entities. It is not necessary for all states, provinces, and territories to participate in each initiative.
ARTICLE II -- Eligible Parties and Effective Date
(1) Each of the following states, provinces, and territory is eligible to become a party to this agreement: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Yukon.
(2) This agreement establishing the Pacific Northwest economic region becomes effective when it is executed by one state, one province, and one additional state, province, or territory in a form considered appropriate by each entity.
(3) This agreement continues in force and remains binding upon each of the states, provinces, and territories entering into it until renounced by the state, province, or territory.
(4) Renunciation of this agreement must be preceded by sending 1 year's notice in writing of intention to withdraw from the agreement to all other parties to the agreement.
ARTICLE III -- Organizational Structure
(1) Each state, province, and territory participating in this agreement shall appoint representatives to the Pacific Northwest economic region.
(2) The organizational structure of the Pacific Northwest economic region consists of the following:
(a) a delegate council consisting of the governor or a designee and four legislators from each participating state and four representatives from each participating province and territory; and
(b) an executive committee consisting of one legislator from each participating state, province, or territory who is a member of the delegate council and four of the governors, premiers, or commissioners or their designees.
(3) Policy committees may be established to carry out further duties and responsibilities of the Pacific Northwest economic region.
ARTICLE IV -- Duties and Responsibilities
(1) The delegate council has the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) facilitate the involvement of other government officials in the development and implementation of specific collaborative initiatives;
(b) work with policymaking committees in the development and implementation of specific initiatives;
(c) approve general organizational policies developed by the executive committee;
(d) provide final approval of the annual budget and staffing structure for the Pacific Northwest economic region developed by the executive committee; and
(e) other duties and responsibilities established in the rules and regulations of the Pacific Northwest economic region.
(2) The executive committee shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) elect the president and vice president of the Pacific Northwest economic region;
(b) approve and implement general organizational policies;
(c) develop the annual budget;
(d) devise the annual action plan;
(e) act as liaison with other public and private sector entities; and
(f) other duties and responsibilities established in the rules and regulations of the Pacific Northwest economic region.
(3) The rules and regulations of the Pacific Northwest economic region must establish the procedure for voting.
ARTICLE V -- Membership of Policy Committees
(1) Policy committees dealing with specific subject matter may be established by the executive committee.
(2) Each participating state, province, and territory shall appoint legislators to sit on these policy committees in accordance with its own rules and regulations concerning appointments.
This agreement may not be construed to limit the powers of any state, province, or territory or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation.
Section 3. Appointment to Pacific Northwest economic region -- vacancy. (1) Pursuant to [section 2], Article III, the governor or a designee and four legislators must be appointed to the delegate council of the Pacific Northwest economic region. The legislative members are appointed as follows:
(a) one member to be appointed by the president of the senate;
(b) one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(c) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
(d) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(2) If the Pacific Northwest economic region establishes policy committees under [section 2], Article V, appointments of legislators to the policy committees are to be made by the legislative council as provided in 5-11-301.
(3) In the event that a vacancy occurs, appointment to fill the vacancy must be made in the same manner as the original appointment.
Section 4. Compensation of certain appointees to Pacific Northwest economic region. Legislative members appointed to the Pacific Northwest economic region under [section 3] are entitled to compensation as provided in 5-2-302.
Section 5. Section 5-11-301, MCA, is amended to read:
"5-11-301. Functions of legislative council -- interstate and international cooperation. It is a function of the legislative council, within the limits of appropriations, to:
(1) carry forward the participation of the state of Montana as a member of appropriate interstate organizations, and the legislative council is designated as the Montana commission on interstate and international cooperation;
(2) encourage and assist the government of this state to develop and maintain friendly contact by correspondence, by conference, and otherwise with the other states, with the federal government, and with local units of government, as well as tribal governments, bordering Canadian provinces, territories, and regions designated as sister states by the legislature;
(3) establish delegations and committees as may be considered advisable to confer with similar delegations and committees from other states, provinces, territories, and countries concerning problems of mutual interest. The membership of the delegations and committees may consist of legislators and employees of the state other than members of the legislative council. Legislative members of the delegations and committees must be reimbursed and compensated as provided in 5-2-302.
(4) endeavor to advance cooperation between this state and other units of government whenever it seems advisable to
do so by formulating proposals for interstate compacts and reciprocal or uniform legislation and by facilitating the adoption
of uniform or reciprocal administrative rules and regulations, informal cooperation of governmental offices, personal
cooperation among governmental officials and employees, interchange and clearance of research and information, and any
other suitable process.; and
(5) make appointments to any policy committee established by the Pacific Northwest economic region as provided in [section 3(2)]."
Section 6. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 4] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 5, chapter 11, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 11, apply to [sections 1 through 4].
Section 7. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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