Throughout the interim, the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Committee considered bill drafts related to its ongoing studies and also to other health and human services matters under its jurisdiction. Following is a list of legislation approved by the committee for introduction in the 2011 Legislature, by topic.
The bills can be followed to determine their status at any point in the process by using the LC number listed below in the Legislature's bill-tracking system.
SJR 35 Study of Health Care
LC 283: Provide monitoring of childhood body mass index trends -- August version
LC 297: Allow dental hygienists to conduct school-based sealant programs -- August version
Medical Marijuana
LC 284: Revise Medical Marijuana Act and create regulatory structure -- August version
LC 295: Clarify that the Clean Indoor Air Act applies to the smoking of medical marijuana -- August version
LC 296: Clarify employer rights related to employee use of medical marijuana -- August version
DPHHS Oversight
LC 46: Clarify the commitment laws for people with developmental disabilities -- August version
LC 65: Clarify that mental health diversion grants are based on admissions to the Montana State Hospital -- April version
LC 293: Amend the DPHHS administrative rule reducing Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians
At its August 2010 meeting, the committee canceled LC 92, to revise physician licensing requirements, and LC 93, to clarify the formula for awarding mental health diversion grants. The parties originally proposing those bills were no longer interested in pursuing them as committee legislation.
Agency Legislation
Interim committees also authorize the drafting and pre-introduction of agency legislation in order to allow work on the bills to begin in the fall of 2010. The authorization is not an endorsement of the content of the bills, and the agency is responsible for finding a legislator to sponsor each bill. The committee authorized the drafting of the following bills for the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
LC 285: Revise Medicaid eligibility criteria to implement federal health care reform -- DPHHS Summary
LC 286: Remove funding restrictions for tobacco tax, tobacco settlement, and HMK funds -- DPHHS Summary
LC 287: Revise laws on CHIP, HMK, and children's Medicaid to remove conflicts -- DPHHS Summary
LC 288: Provide parole for individuals sentenced to custody of DPHHS -- DPHHS Summary
LC 289: Revise special education age eligibility for state-operated health care facilities -- DPHHS Summary
LC 290: Allow direct commitment to a federal mental health facility -- DPHHS Summary
