HOUSE BILL NO. 691
INTRODUCED BY D. VILLA
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A MONTANA FILM ARTS PILOT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION; PROVIDING GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA; CREATING A SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TO ATTEND A FILM OR MEDIA ARTS PROGRAM AT A UNIT OF THE MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Montana film arts pilot program -- purpose -- grant eligibility criteria -- scholarships -- definitions. (1) There is a Montana film arts pilot program administered by the office of public instruction.
(2) The purpose of the program is to:
(a) provide educational grants to a school district for the purchase of computer hardware and software, licenses, and miscellaneous film equipment and for an instructor in the art of filmmaking to provide instruction to up to 120 students for a minimum of 2 years;
(b) provide a pathway for students to enroll in a film media arts program at a unit of the Montana university system; and
(c) increase the curriculum for the existing school-to-work program administered by the office of public instruction by allowing students to produce and market local film arts projects as revenue projects.
(3) By July 1, 2007, the trustees of a school district seeking to implement or expand a middle school film arts program or a high school film arts program shall submit a grant application to the office of public instruction outlining the following:
(a) a demonstrated need for the Montana film arts program funding;
(b) prior expertise in providing some type of film arts program; and
(c) staff expertise to implement a middle school film arts program or a high school film arts program.
(4) On or before August 1, 2007, the superintendent of public instruction shall review the applications and award the film arts grant to one school district meeting the criteria outlined in this section. If more than one school district qualifies for a grant under this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall award the grant to the earliest applicant.
(5) Any revenue collected from the production and marketing of film arts projects must be deposited in a state special revenue account established in [section 2] and must be used by the superintendent of public instruction to award scholarships to graduating high school students to enroll in a film or media arts program at a unit of the Montana university system.
(6) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules establishing procedures for awarding grants, eligibility requirements, and application forms and procedures for film arts scholarships.
(7) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "High school film arts program" means a curriculum that includes:
(i) the business of media, motion picture, and television development, production, postproduction, marketing, and distribution; and
(ii) expanded courses in technical aspects of media, advanced film theory, and a media arts history unit.
(b) "Middle school film arts program" means a curriculum that includes fundamental story development and screenwriting assignments, preliminary hands-on technical media skills, basic film theory, and media arts history, with an emphasis on personal expression and self-fulfillment.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Film arts scholarship special revenue account. (1) There is a film arts scholarship special revenue account in the state special revenue fund established pursuant to 17-2-102(1)(b), to the credit of the office of public instruction.
(2) Legislative appropriations of money in the film arts scholarship account must be used for the purposes identified in [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation -- matching funds -- scholarships. (1) There is appropriated $400,000 from the general fund to the office of public instruction for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, to provide grants to an eligible school district to implement a Montana film arts program pursuant to [section 1].
(2) A grant provided to a school district under this section may be used as matching funds to expand the district's film arts program.
(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute funds deposited in the film arts scholarship special revenue account established in [section 2] to provide scholarships to graduates of a high school film arts program.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 7, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 7, apply to [sections 1 and 2].
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval.
(2) [Section 3] is effective July 1, 2007.
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Latest Version of HB 691 (HB0691.01)
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