HOUSE BILL NO. 252

INTRODUCED BY D. MOOD, L. GROSFIELD, B. DEPRATU, K. OHS, B. SIMON, E. SWANSON, M. TAYLOR, J. TESTER, C. TUSS, M. WATERMAN

BY REQUEST OF THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON JOBS AND INCOME

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE JOBS AND INCOME PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS FOR APPROPRIATIONS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Professional and occupational electronic licensing -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $340,000 from the state special revenue fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purpose described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to replace the existing licensing database that is obsolete. The new electronic professional and occupational licensing application and renewal system must use internet technology to streamline the licensing process and to serve as a management tool for the division of professional and occupational licensing and the individual boards attached to the department.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Marketing development -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $100,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to provide Montana companies with:

(a) assistance in identifying national and international trade shows that offer new business opportunities and assistance to small Montana companies in participating in trade shows; and

(b) direct technical marketing, market research, and marketing training.

(3) The department shall generate a database of marketing specialists located inside and outside of Montana and use the database to assist Montana businesses seeking specific marketing experience.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Access to markets -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $200,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to encourage and promote activities that increase foreign and domestic trade efforts for Montana agricultural, manufactured, and other products. The strategies for increasing Montana product presence in foreign markets must focus on maximizing Canadian trade opportunities and an expansion of Asian trade efforts, including efforts to expand the presence of Montana products in China. Domestic market access must include efforts to identify areas within the United States where Montana products could meet specific consumer demands.

(3) The department of commerce may use the funds for personnel costs and administrative expenses.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Manufacturing extension services -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $200,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) as a partial match for federal funds to provide experienced manufacturing engineering expertise to small Montana manufacturers at an economically reasonable cost. The appropriation must be used to assist the five regional Montana manufacturing extension service engineers located in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula to increase:

(a) the efficiency of Montana manufacturers;

(b) the amount of revenue realized from the sale of manufactured products; and

(c) the level of net new jobs in Montana manufacturing firms.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Small business development centers -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $125,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purpose described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to match federal and local funds to enhance the training opportunities and technical assistance that small business development centers in the state provide to small businesses. The existing small business development centers located in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Colstrip, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, and Wolf Point offer training and assistance designed to increase the number of jobs and revenue generated by small businesses and to foster conditions that result in business retention.

NEW SECTION. Section 6. Business startup and expansion training -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $85,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purpose described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to expand the nxlevel small business entrepreneurial training program for startup businesses and high school students that was initiated through a partnership between the department and US west. The training program is designed to enhance the technical and managerial skills of current and future business owners to improve the profitability and stability of businesses.

NEW SECTION. Section 7. Microloan technical training -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of commerce $25,000 from the general fund and $125,000 from the federal special revenue fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purpose described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of commerce shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to supplement existing small business counseling and assistance services provided by the statewide network of small business development centers and microbusiness finance programs by implementing distance learning technology to allow the delivery of business management training and peer networking services directly to rural areas and Indian reservations.

NEW SECTION. Section 8. Growth through agriculture -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of agriculture $1 million from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of agriculture shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to strengthen and diversify the state's agricultural industry by establishing public-private sector partnerships to assist the development of innovative agricultural business organizational improvements and the commercialization and marketing of new agricultural products in order to keep pace with a transforming agricultural industry and to create new jobs and expand small business opportunities, including:

(a) grant programs to agricultural businesses for feasibility studies, marketing studies, and business plan development;

(b) low-interest and guaranteed loan programs for agricultural businesses through the growth through agriculture council; and

(c) the development and establishment of new markets for Montana agricultural products.

NEW SECTION. Section 9. Agricultural product promotion -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of agriculture $186,500 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) The department of agriculture shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to:

(a) identify the opportunities and resources available for the state's agricultural products;

(b) develop and improve communications between Montana agricultural producers and companies;

(c) receive, develop, and implement trade leads from domestic and international sources;

(d) assist agricultural businesses with response development and in delivering responses to the appropriate market; and

(e) provide timely and efficient followup of distribution, financing, marketing, feedback, and cultural exchanges.

(3) The department of agriculture may use the funds appropriated for personnel costs associated with administering subsection (2).

NEW SECTION. Section 10. Agricultural business assistance -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of agriculture $171,000 from the general fund for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purposes described in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) The department of agriculture shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to:

(a) assist new or expanding agricultural businesses on an individual basis to develop their business, locate financial support, improve transportation efficiency, assist with business regulatory compliance, and facilitate and support increased value of agricultural commodities through more efficient production methods; and

(b) develop hard copy and electronic information for business assistance and irrigation services that identifies the infrastructure for agribusiness development assistance. The project must link the information to Montana techlink, Montana state university extension services, and the Montana manufacturing extension center.

(3) The department of agriculture may use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) for personnel costs associated with administering subsection (2).

NEW SECTION. Section 11. Rail transportation technical assistance -- appropriation. (1) There is appropriated to the department of transportation $100,000 from the highway nonrestricted account within the state special revenue fund, and $50,000 may be used from the wheat and barley account in the special revenue fund for the purpose of funding activities undertaken by the wheat and barley commission for the biennium ending July 1, 2001, for the purpose described in subsection (2).

(2) The department of transportation shall use the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to better coordinate the state's response among the departments of agriculture, commerce, and transportation to provide improved rail representation within state government on agricultural rail transportation issues.

NEW SECTION. Section 12. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Section 13. Termination. [This act] terminates July 1, 2001.

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