2017 Montana Legislature

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27

INTRODUCED BY G. VANCE

A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE MONTANA STATE FUND AND OPTIONS FOR PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE IN MONTANA.

WHEREAS, in 2015 the Montana State Fund, also known as the Montana State Compensation Insurance Fund, was legislatively assigned to be under the regulatory oversight of the State Auditor's Office but not required, as the provider of a guaranteed market of workers' compensation in this state, to pay insurance tax premiums; and

WHEREAS, while one bill in the 2017 Legislature sought to dissolve the Montana State Fund and another bill looked at moving the Montana State Fund toward a domestic mutual insurer, each bill posed unknown repercussions for the many small businesses and agricultural interests that rely on the Montana State Fund as a guaranteed market for workers' compensation insurance; and

WHEREAS, Montana's workers' compensation premium rates ranked as the 11th highest in the nation as measured by the Oregon Workers' Compensation Premium Rate Ranking for Calendar Year 2016, and the role of the Montana State Fund is worth examining in light of those rates.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Legislative Council be requested to designate the Economic Affairs Interim Committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, to study:

(1) the role and costs of the Montana State Compensation Insurance Fund in providing the guaranteed market in Montana; and

(2) alternate options available for providing workers' compensation insurance, focusing on what is most cost-effective and in the best interest of the state, Montana employees, and Montana employers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the interim committee establish a subcommittee to hear presentations and craft legislation that contains changes determined by the study to be necessary as related to the Montana State Compensation Insurance Fund and that, based on the number of additional meetings that may be required, the interim committee submit a request to the Legislative Council for additional funding of the topic as an emerging issue.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2018, and that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the interim committee, be reported to the 66th Legislature.

- END -

Latest Version of SJ 27 (SJ0027.ENR)
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