HOUSE BILL NO. 470

INTRODUCED BY B. KASTEN

BY REQUEST OF THE HOUSE JOINT APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND AGING

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT NECESSARY TO DRAW DOWN THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES BLOCK GRANT; ALLOCATING FUNDS TO THE MONTANA STATE HOSPITAL; REDUCING THE APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 1999 BY THE AMOUNT OF THE ALLOCATION; AMENDING SECTION 53-4-211, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 53-4-211, MCA, is amended to read:

"53-4-211. Administration of programs funded under temporary assistance for needy families block grant. (1) The department is authorized and is charged with the general administration and supervision of programs funded under the temporary assistance for needy families block grant under the powers, duties, and functions as prescribed in chapter 2 of this title.

(2) The state of Montana shall maintain a fiscal effort equivalent to at least 77% of its historic state expenditures, as defined in 42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(iii), governing maintenance of effort necessary to draw down the temporary assistance to needy families block grant."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Allocation of funds. There is allocated to the department of public health and human services $1 million from the savings generated by [section 1] to be used to support services at the Montana state hospital if there is insufficient funding for those services. If there is adequate funding, then any unspent funds allocated by this section must revert to the general fund.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Reduction in appropriation. The $39,678,774 general fund appropriation to the department of public health and human services child and family services division for fiscal year 1999 in Section C of section 14, Chapter 551, Laws of 1997, at page 3368 of the 1997 Montana Session Laws is reduced to $38,678,774.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

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