AN ACT PROVIDING THAT AN AGENCY THAT PROPOSES BY RULE TO INCREASE, DECREASE, OR ADOPT A MONETARY AMOUNT THAT PERSONS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY OR WILL RECEIVE SHALL, IF KNOWN, INCLUDE IN THE PROPOSAL NOTICE AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF PAYING OR RECEIVING PERSONS AND THE CUMULATIVE AMOUNT THAT THOSE PERSONS WILL PAY OR RECEIVE; AMENDING SECTION 2-4-302, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 2-4-302, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-4-302. Notice, hearing, and submission of views. (1) Prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule, the agency shall give written notice of its intended action. The notice must include a statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved, the rationale for the intended action, and the time when, place where, and manner in which interested persons may present their views on the intended action. The rationale must be written in plain, easily understood language. If the agency proposes to adopt, increase, or decrease a monetary amount that a person shall pay or will receive, such as a fee, cost, or benefit, the notice must include an estimate, if known, of:

(a) the cumulative amount for all persons of the proposed increase, decrease, or new amount; and

(b) the number of persons affected.

(2) (a) The notice must be filed with the secretary of state for publication in the register, as provided in 2-4-312, and mailed within 3 days of publication to the sponsor of the legislative bill that enacted the section that is cited as implemented in the notice if the notice is the initial proposal to implement the section, to interested persons who have made timely requests to the agency to be informed of its rulemaking proceedings, and to the office of any professional, trade, or industrial society or organization or member of those entities who has filed a request with the administrative code committee when the request has been forwarded to the agency as provided in subsection (2)(b). Each agency shall create and maintain a list of interested persons and the subject or subjects in which each person on the list is interested. A person who submits a written comment or attends a hearing in regard to proposed agency action under this part must be informed of the list by the agency. An agency complies with this subsection if it includes in the notice an advisement explaining how persons may be placed on the list of interested persons and if it complies with subsection (7).

(b) The administrative code committee shall forward a list of all organizations or persons who have submitted a request to be informed of agency actions to all agencies publishing rulemaking notices in the register. The list must be amended by the agency upon request of any person requesting to be added to or deleted from the list.

(c) The notice required by subsections (1) and (2)(a) must be published and mailed at least 30 days in advance of the agency's intended action. In addition to publishing and mailing the notice under subsection (2)(a) , the agency shall post the notice on a state electronic access system or other electronic communications system available to the public.

(d) The agency shall also, at the time that its personnel begin to work on the substantive content and the wording of the initial rule proposal to implement one or more statutes, notify the sponsor of the legislative bill that enacted the section.

(3) If a statute provides for a method of publication different from that provided in subsection (2), the affected agency shall comply with the statute in addition to the requirements contained in this section. However, the notice period may not be less than 30 days or more than 6 months.

(4) Prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule, the agency shall afford interested persons at least 20 days' notice of a hearing and at least 28 days from the day of the original notice to submit data, views, or arguments, orally or in writing. If an amended or supplemental notice is filed, additional time may be allowed for oral or written submissions. In the case of substantive rules, the notice of proposed rulemaking must state that opportunity for oral hearing must be granted if requested by either 10% or 25, whichever is less, of the persons who will be directly affected by the proposed rule, by a governmental subdivision or agency, by the administrative code committee, or by an association having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected. If the proposed rulemaking involves matters of significant interest to the public, the agency shall schedule an oral hearing.

(5) An agency may continue a hearing date for cause. In the discretion of the agency, contested case procedures need not be followed in hearings held pursuant to this section. If a hearing is otherwise required by statute, nothing in this section alters that requirement.

(6) If an agency fails to publish a notice of adoption within the time required by 2-4-305(7) and the agency again proposes the same rule for adoption, amendment, or repeal, the proposal must be considered a new proposal for purposes of compliance with this chapter.

(7) At the commencement of a hearing on the intended action, the person designated by the agency to preside at the hearing shall:

(a) read aloud the "Notice of Function of Administrative Code Committee" appearing in the register; and

(b) inform the persons at the hearing of the provisions of subsection (2)(a) and provide them an opportunity to place their names on the list.

(8) For purposes of notifying sponsors under subsections (2)(a) and (2)(d) who are no longer members of the legislature, a former legislator who wishes to receive notice may keep the former legislator's name, address, and telephone number on file with the secretary of state. An agency proposing rules shall consult the register when providing sponsor notice."

Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

- END -

I hereby certify that the within bill,

HB 0194, originated in the House.

Chief Clerk of the House

Speaker of the House

Signed this	day

of	, .

President of the Senate

Signed this	day

of	, .

HOUSE BILL NO. 194

INTRODUCED BY J. COBB

AN ACT PROVIDING THAT AN AGENCY THAT PROPOSES BY RULE TO INCREASE, DECREASE, OR ADOPT A MONETARY AMOUNT THAT PERSONS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY OR WILL RECEIVE SHALL, IF KNOWN, INCLUDE IN THE PROPOSAL NOTICE AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF PAYING OR RECEIVING PERSONS AND THE CUMULATIVE AMOUNT THAT THOSE PERSONS WILL PAY OR RECEIVE; AMENDING SECTION 2-4-302, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.