House Bill No. 610

Introduced By grady, quilici, jenkins, franklin, feland, keenan, mohl, anderson, mahlum



A Bill for an Act entitled: An Act establishing a legislative committee to study the revenue and expenditures of the highways state special revenue account and Montana's transportation infrastructure needs; providing for appointments to the committee; appropriating funds for the operation of the committee; and providing an effective date and a termination date.



WHEREAS, there is a declining working cash balance in the highways state special revenue account, which may lead to a reduction in state-funded construction projects; and

WHEREAS, highways state special revenue account money is being used to support an increasing number of programs and projects, and it is therefore appropriate to determine the proper use of dedicated revenue; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation may be facing a decline in federal matching funds for construction and maintenance programs; and

WHEREAS, increased travel on Montana's roads, highways, and bridges has intensified the need to strengthen Montana's highway infrastructure for the safety of the traveling public and the well-being of the state's economy.

THEREFORE, the Legislature finds it appropriate that an interim study committee be established and assigned to complete a comprehensive review of the highways state special revenue account and the state's transportation infrastructure needs.



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:



Section 1.  Transportation funding and expenditure study committee -- composition -- appointments. (1) There is a transportation funding and expenditure study committee.

(2) The committee is composed of the following members:

(a) four members of the house of representatives, two from each party, appointed by the speaker of the house; and

(b) four members of the senate, two from each party, appointed by the committee on committees.

(3) The department of transportation may provide support staff and technical advisers to assist the committee.

(4) The members of the committee shall elect a presiding officer from among the members.

(5) A vacancy occurring on the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.



Section 2.  Meetings. (1) The presiding officer shall schedule meetings of the transportation funding and expenditure study committee as necessary and shall give advance notice to the committee members of the time and place of each meeting.

(2) The committee may adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings.



Section 3.  Reimbursement of expenses. Each member of the transportation funding and expenditure study committee appointed under [section 1] is entitled to the compensation and expenses provided for in 5-2-302.



Section 4.  Powers and duties -- staff support -- recommendations -- report. (1) The transportation funding and expenditure study committee shall make a thorough study of:

(a) funding sources of the highways state special revenue account, including gasoline tax, diesel tax, permit fees, new car sales tax, and gross vehicle weight taxes and fees;

(b) expenditures from the highways state special revenue account, including legislative appropriations, statutory appropriations, statutory distributions, and refunds;

(c) infrastructure usage and needs for the state's primary and secondary roads and the national highway and urban systems, including projected long-term needs;

(d) the most cost-effective use of highways state special revenue account dollars;

(e) the priority placed on and between broad program investment categories, including:

(i) the investment of highways state special revenue account funds on maintenance of streets and highways;

(ii) matching federal-aid and highway program funds;

(iii) state-funded construction programs;

(iv) administrative and overhead costs of the department of transportation;

(v) the state highway patrol;

(vi) the state park, snowmobile, and off-highway vehicle accounts;

(vii) allocations to cities, counties, and towns;

(viii) the alcohol incentive program;

(ix) off-road tax refunds for agricultural use;

(x) tribal member refund allocations;

(xi) the motor vehicle division of the department of justice; and

(xii) any other current statutory distribution of the highways state special revenue account money.

(2) The legislative fiscal division shall supply staff support to the committee.

(3) The committee is authorized to secure information of any type from any agency, board, or commission or from any independent organization. A state agency, board, or commission shall supply information upon the request of the committee.

(4) On or before August 1, 1998, the committee shall submit to the legislative finance committee and the 56th legislature a report of its findings and conclusions. The report must contain recommendations for legislation and drafts of proposed legislation to ensure that:

(a) highways state special revenue account funds are used in the most cost-effective manner to meet transportation infrastructure needs; and

(b) transportation infrastructure needs are addressed with the available highways state special revenue account funds identified by the committee pursuant to subsection (1)(a) in light of the findings made in subsection (1)(e).



Section 5.  Funding for study -- appropriation. There is appropriated to the legislative fiscal division an amount not to exceed $25,000. The money is appropriated from the nondedicated portion of the highways state special revenue fund for the purpose of conducting the study identified in [section 4]. The funds may be used only for fulfilling the duties of the transportation funding and expenditure study committee, including:

(1) reimbursing or compensating the committee members as provided in [section 3];

(2) contracting for services to assist in the study to be conducted by the committee; and

(3) paying other expenses incurred by the committee or by the legislative fiscal division in completing the study.



Section 6.  Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1997.



Section 7.  Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 1999.

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