SENATE BILL NO. 405
INTRODUCED BY BALES, STEINBEISSER, TASH, BLACK, BRUEGGEMAN, BARKUS, CURTISS, JACKSON, LEWIS, GEBHARDT, LAIBLE
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING FISCAL AND PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS; REQUIRING THE PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN FISCAL INFORMATION AND A LISTING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LAND HOLDINGS AND LEASES; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT TO INCLUDE A DISCUSSION AND ESTIMATE OF FUTURE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LAND ACQUISITIONS; SETTING A CAP ON THE BALANCE IN THE GENERAL LICENSE ACCOUNT AND ESTABLISHING A METHOD TO CALCULATE THE AVAILABLE BALANCE IN THE ACCOUNT; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT ANY UNEXPENDED CAPITAL AUTHORITY TO THE LEGISLATURE AND PROVIDING FOR CLARIFICATION OF UNENCUMBERED SPENDING AUTHORITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Publication of fiscal information regarding department accounts and programs. (1) In addition to the information in 87-1-202, the department shall annually publish information detailing:
(a) expenditures from the general license account, including references relating each expenditure to the department's overall agency goals and objectives;
(b) expenditures for any statutorily established program administered by the department, including references relating each expenditure to the various program goals and objectives; and
(c) information related to the department's land acquisitions, purchases, sales, and ownership, including a detailed listing of the department's land holdings, such as state parks, fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, and leases of any kind.
(2) The information in subsection (1) must be made available to the public by posting the information on the department's internet website. The information in subsection (1)(c) must also be included in an executive summary in the department's annual land report.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Fiscal assessment of future costs associated with land acquisitions. Whenever the department proposes the acquisition of land to the commission and the board of land commissioners pursuant to 87-1-209, the proposal must include:
(1) a discussion and estimate of future costs associated with the acquisition, including anticipated costs of site development, maintenance, and operations;
(2) the proposed source of funding for future costs; and
(3) an anticipated timeline associated with the future costs of development, maintenance, and operations.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. General license account -- fiscal and performance accountability. (1) The BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2011, THE fund balance in the department's general license account may not exceed one-half of the state special revenue fund appropriation level IN THE GENERAL LICENSE ACCOUNT for the base year of each biennium. IF THE BALANCE EXCEEDS THIS LIMIT, ANY EXCESS FUNDS MUST BE TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT AND MAY BE USED ONLY IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
(A) 50% FOR THE BLOCK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM;
(B) 25% FOR MAINTENANCE OF DEPARTMENT FISH HATCHERIES; AND
(C) 25% FOR MAINTENANCE OF STATE FISHING ACCESS SITES.
(2) The department shall calculate a projected THE ending fund balance for the general license account for each biennium FISCAL YEAR by using the present biennium ending fund balance on the statewide accounting system, AND adjusting that balance for the department's current year projected revenue and appropriation authority, and then adjusting that amount for projected revenue and appropriation requests used in establishing the executive budget. Appropriation authority must include any approved or requested capital authority.
(3) The department shall calculate a 60-day working capital requirement for the general license account by dividing the projected account ending fund balance by six. The legislature may consider the balance in the general license account in relation to the 60-day working capital requirement prior to approving any legislation intended to raise hunting and fishing license fees.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Fiscal accountability for unexpended capital authority. The department shall report to the legislative long-range planning joint subcommittee concerning any outstanding unexpended capital authority that has been granted to the department and whether that authority is encumbered or uncommitted. If unexpended capital authority is not encumbered, the subcommittee may clarify the purposes for which the capital may be expended.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 4] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 87, chapter 1, part 6, and the provisions of Title 87, chapter 1, part 6, apply to [sections 1 through 4].
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2007.
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Latest Version of SB 405 (SB0405.02)
Processed for the Web on February 22, 2007 (4:52pm)
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