AN ACT REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE MEMBER FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF APPOINTED TO THE FLATHEAD BASIN COMMISSION SERVE AS THE COMMISSION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; ALLOWING THE COMMISSION TO HIRE STAFF; ELIMINATING THE FLATHEAD BASIN COMMISSION ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-213 AND 2-15-215, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 75-7-306, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Section 1. Section 2-15-213, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-213. Flathead basin commission -- membership -- compensation. (1) There is a Flathead basin commission.

(2) The commission consists of 21 members selected as follows:

(a) seven members appointed by the governor from industrial, environmental, and other interests affected by Title 75, chapter 7, part 3, one of whom must be on the governor's staff ;

(b) one member who is the director of the department of natural resources and conservation or the director's designee;

(c) one member appointed by the Flathead County commissioners;

(d) one member appointed by the Lake County commissioners;

(e) one member appointed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes;

(f) one member appointed by the United States department of agriculture, forest service regional forester for the northern region;

(g) one member appointed by the United States department of interior, national park service regional director for the Rocky Mountain region;

(h) one member appointed by the Flathead County conservation district board of supervisors;

(i) one member appointed by the Lake County conservation district board of supervisors;

(j) four ex officio members appointed respectively by the chief executive of the provincial government of the Province of British Columbia; the regional administrator of the United States environmental protection agency; the regional administrator of the United States department of the interior, bureau of reclamation; and the holder of a license issued for the Flathead project under the Federal Power Act;

(k) two ex officio members who are the director of the department of environmental quality and the director of the department of fish, wildlife, and parks or their designees.

(3) The commissioners shall serve without pay. The commissioners listed in subsection (2)(a), except the commissioner on the governor's staff, are entitled to reimbursement for travel, meals, and lodging while engaged in commission business, as provided in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503.

(4) The commission is attached to the governor's office for administrative purposes only."

Section 2. Section 2-15-215, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-215. Flathead basin commission staff and office location. (1) The commission may hire staff for the purpose of carrying out its duties.

(2) An office for the commission may be established at a community located in the basin ."

Section 3. Repealer. Section 75-7-306, MCA, is repealed.

Section 4. Notification to tribal government. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal government.

Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

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I hereby certify that the within bill,

HB 0539, 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. 539

INTRODUCED BY P. SLITER, R. BITNEY, S. FISHER, V. JACKSON, B. LAWSON, R. SOMERVILLE

AN ACT REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE MEMBER FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF APPOINTED TO THE FLATHEAD BASIN COMMISSION SERVE AS THE COMMISSION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; ALLOWING THE COMMISSION TO HIRE STAFF; ELIMINATING THE FLATHEAD BASIN COMMISSION ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-213 AND 2-15-215, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 75-7-306, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.