2003 Montana Legislature

SENATE BILL NO. 109

INTRODUCED BY MCNUTT

BY REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING LAWS; ADDING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TO THE BOARD OF PHARMACY; DEFINING "PHYSICIAN"; PROVIDING LICENSING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORS OF OSTEOPATHY AND RECOGNIZING THEIR STATUS AS PHYSICIANS; MODIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICIAN RENEWAL FEES; MODIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS FOR DENTISTS; PROVIDING THAT LICENSEES UNDER THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY MAY BE REFERRED TO AN IMPAIRMENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT CERTAIN MEDICAL LICENSES THAT ARE NOT TIMELY RENEWED MAY BE CONSIDERED LAPSED RATHER THAN REVOKED; MODIFYING CHIROPRACTIC LICENSING AND EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS; MODIFYING LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ACUPUNCTURISTS; REMOVING THE LIMITATION ON THE REEXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR HEARING AID DISPENSERS; REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR MORTICIANS BE FULFILLED WITHIN THE STATE OF MONTANA; REMOVING A DATE REQUIREMENT FOR MORTICIAN EXAMINATIONS; MAKING THE ADOPTION OF CERTAIN RULES PERTAINING TO MIDWIFERY DISCRETIONARY; ALLOWING MIDWIFERY EXAMINATIONS TO BE PREPARED BY A NATIONAL TESTING ENTITY; MODIFYING OUTDATED LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO DENTURISTS; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-1733, 15-6-217, 37-3-102, 37-3-103, 37-3-203, 37-3-303, 37-3-304, 37-3-307, 37-3-313, 37-3-315, 37-3-345, 37-4-301, 37-4-311, 37-4-312, 37-4-402, 37-6-304, 37-12-102, 37-12-302, 37-12-304, 37-13-306, 37-16-403, 37-19-302, 37-19-303, 37-20-302, 37-20-303, 37-26-301, 37-27-105, 37-27-202, 37-29-304, 39-71-116, AND 50-5-105,MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 37-5-101, 37-5-102, 37-5-301, 37-5-302, 37-5-305, 37-5-307, AND 37-5-312, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Section 1. Section 2-15-1733, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-1733. Board of pharmacy. (1) There is a board of pharmacy.

(2) The board consists of five six members appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. Three members must be licensed pharmacists, one member must be a registered pharmacy technician, and two members must be from the general public.

(a) Each licensed pharmacist member must have graduated and received the first professional undergraduate degree from the school of pharmacy of the university of Montana-Missoula or from an accredited pharmacy degree program that has been approved by the board. Each licensed pharmacist member must have at least 5 consecutive years of practical experience as a pharmacist immediately before appointment to the board. A licensed pharmacist member who, during the member's term of office, ceases to be actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state must be automatically disqualified from membership on the board.

(b) A registered pharmacy technician member must have at least 5 consecutive years of practical experience as a pharmacy technician immediately before appointment to the board. A registered pharmacy technician member who, during the member's term of office, ceases to be actively engaged as a pharmacy technician in this state must be automatically disqualified from membership on the board.

(b)(c) Each public member of the board must be a resident of the state and may not be or ever have been:

(i) a member of the profession of pharmacy or the spouse of a member of the profession of pharmacy;

(ii) a person having any material financial interest in the providing of pharmacy services; or

(iii) a person who has engaged in any activity directly related to the practice of pharmacy.

(3) Members shall serve staggered 5-year terms. A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. For the purposes of this section, an appointment to fill an unexpired term does not constitute a full term.

(4) A member must be removed from office by the governor:

(a) upon proof of malfeasance or misfeasance in office, after reasonable notice of charges against the member and after a hearing; or

(b) upon refusal or inability to perform the duties of a board member in an efficient, responsible, and professional manner.

(5) The board is allocated to the department for administrative purposes only as prescribed in 2-15-121."

Section 2. Section 15-6-217, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-6-217. Exemption for vehicle of certain health care professionals. A motor vehicle that is brought, driven, or coming into this state is exempt from the registration fees imposed in 15-24-301 if the motor vehicle is registered in another state or country by a nonresident person who is a licensed health care professional, as provided in Title 37, chapter 3, 5, 8, 11, 14, 20, 21, 25, 28, or 34, and who is employed in Montana by a rural health care facility that is located in an area that has been:

(1) designated by the secretary of the federal department of health and human services as a health professional shortage area, as provided in 42 U.S.C. 254(e); or

(2) determined to have a critical shortage of nurses, as provided in 42 U.S.C. 297n(a)(3)."

Section 3. Section 37-3-102, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-102. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Approved internship" means an internship training program of at least 1 year in a hospital that is either approved for intern training by the American osteopathic association or conforms to the minimum standards for intern training established by the council on medical education of the American medical association or successors. However, the board may, upon investigation, approve any other internship.

(2) "Approved medical school" means a school that either is accredited by the American osteopathic association or conforms to the minimum education standards established by the council on medical education of the American medical association or successors for medical schools or is equivalent in the sound discretion of the board. The board may, on investigation of the education standards and facilities, approve any medical school, including foreign medical schools.

(3) "Approved residency" means a residency training program in a hospital conforming to the minimum standards for residency training established by the council on medical education of the American medical association or successors or approved for residency training by the American osteopathic association. However, the board may upon investigation approve any other residency.

(4) "Board" means the Montana state board of medical examiners provided for in 2-15-1731.

(5) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

(6) "Physician" means a person who holds a degree as a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy and who has a valid license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in this state.

(6)(7) "Practice of medicine" means the diagnosis, treatment, or correction of or the attempt to or the holding of oneself out as being able to diagnose, treat, or correct human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries, or infirmities, whether physical or mental, by any means, methods, devices, or instrumentalities. If a person who does not possess a license to practice medicine in this state under this chapter and who is not exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter performs acts constituting the practice of medicine, the person is practicing medicine in violation of this chapter."

Section 4. Section 37-3-103, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-103. Exemptions from licensing requirements. (1) This chapter does not prohibit or require a license with respect to any of the following acts:

(a) the gratuitous rendering of services in cases of emergency or catastrophe;

(b) the rendering of services in this state by a physician lawfully practicing medicine in another state or territory. However, if the physician does not limit the services to an occasional case or if the physician has any established or regularly used hospital connections in this state or maintains or is provided with, for the physician's regular use, an office or other place for rendering the services, the physician must possess a license to practice medicine in this state.

(d) the practice of podiatry under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws of this state;

(e) the practice of optometry under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws of this state;

(f) the practice of osteopathy under the conditions and limitations defined in chapter 5 of this title for those doctors of osteopathy who do not receive a physician's certificate under this chapter;

(g)(f) the practice of chiropractic under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws of this state;

(h)(g) the practice of Christian Science, with or without compensation, and ritual circumcisions by rabbis;

(i)(h) the performance by commissioned medical officers of the United States public health service or of the United States department of veterans affairs of their lawful duties in this state as officers;

(j)(i) the rendering of nursing services by registered or other nurses in the lawful discharge of their duties as nurses or of midwife services by registered nurse-midwives under the supervision of a licensed physician;

(k)(j) the rendering of services by interns or resident physicians in a hospital or clinic in which they are training, subject to the conditions and limitations of this chapter. The board may require a resident physician to be licensed if the physician otherwise engages in the practice of medicine in the state of Montana.

(l)(k) the rendering of services by a physical therapist, technician, or other paramedical specialist under the appropriate amount and type of supervision of a person licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine, but this exemption does not extend the scope of a paramedical specialist;

(m)(l) the rendering of services by a physician assistant-certified in accordance with Title 37, chapter 20;

(n)(m) the practice by persons licensed under the laws of this state to practice a limited field of the healing arts, and not specifically designated, under the conditions and limitations defined by law;

(o)(n) the execution of a death sentence pursuant to 46-19-103;

(p)(o) the practice of direct-entry midwifery. For the purpose of this section, the practice of direct-entry midwifery means the advising, attending, or assisting of a woman during pregnancy, labor, natural childbirth, or the postpartum period. Except as authorized in 37-27-302, a direct-entry midwife may not dispense or administer a prescription drug, as those terms are defined in 37-7-101.

(q)(p) the use of an automated external defibrillator pursuant to Title 50, chapter 6, part 5.

(2) Licensees referred to in subsection (1) who are licensed to practice a limited field of healing arts shall confine themselves to the field for which they are licensed or registered and to the scope of their respective licenses and, with the exception of those licensees who hold a medical degree, may not use the title "M.D.", "D.O.", or any word or abbreviation to indicate or to induce others to believe that they are engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of persons afflicted with disease, injury, or defect of body or mind except to the extent and under the conditions expressly provided by the law under which they are licensed."

Section 5. Section 37-3-203, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-203. Powers and duties. The board may:

(1) adopt rules necessary or proper to carry out parts 1 through 3 of this chapter. The rules must be fair, impartial, and nondiscriminatory.

(2) hold hearings and take evidence in matters relating to the exercise and performance of the powers and duties vested in the board;

(3) aid the county attorneys of this state in the enforcement of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter and the prosecution of persons, firms, associations, or corporations charged with violations of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter;

(4) establish a program to assist and rehabilitate licensed physicians licensees subject to the jurisdiction of the board who are found to be physically or mentally impaired by habitual intemperance or the excessive use of addictive drugs, alcohol, or any other drug or substance or by mental or chronic physical illness;

(5) select an executive secretary to be hired by the department to:

(a) provide services to the board in connection with the board's duties under this chapter;

(b) assist in prosecution and matters of license discipline under this chapter; and

(6) fund additional staff, hired by the department, to administer the provisions of this chapter, by increasing license fees as necessary."

Section 6. Section 37-3-303, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-303. Practice authorized by physician's certificate. The A physician's certificate authorizes the holder to perform one or more of the acts embraced in 37-3-102(6)(7) in a manner reasonably consistent with his the holder's training, skill, and experience."

Section 7. Section 37-3-304, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-304. Practice authorized by temporary certificate. (1) The A temporary certificate, which may be issued to any citizen or to an alien otherwise qualified for a physician's certificate and which may be issued for a period not to exceed 1 year, subject to renewal for additional periods of 1 year but not to exceed five such renewals, at the discretion of the board, authorizes the holder to perform one or more of the acts embraced in 37-3-102(6)(7) in a manner reasonably consistent with his the holder's training, skill, and experience, subject, nevertheless, to all specifications, conditions, and limitations imposed by the board.

(2) A temporary certificate may not be issued for a period that exceeds 1 year. However, the certificate may be renewed, at the board's discretion, for additional 1-year periods but may not be renewed more than five times."

Section 8. Section 37-3-307, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-307. Qualifications for licensure -- temporary certificate. (1) The board may authorize the department to issue to an applicant a temporary certificate to practice medicine on the basis of:

(a) passing an examination given and graded by the department, subject to 37-1-101;

(b) certification of record or other certificate of examination issued to or for the applicant by the national board of medical examiners or successors, by the federation licensing examination committee or successors, by the national board of osteopathic medical examiners or successors, or by the medical council of Canada or successors if the applicant is a graduate of a Canadian medical school which has been approved by the medical council of Canada or successors, certifying that the applicant has passed an examination given by the board; or

(c) a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license or certificate issued to the applicant on the basis of an examination by an examining board under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or of the District of Columbia or of a foreign country whose licensing standards at the time the license or certificate was issued were essentially equivalent, in the judgment of the board, to those of this state at the time for granting a license to practice medicine; and

(d) being a graduate of an approved medical school who has completed 1 year of internship or its equivalent and being of good moral character and good conduct.

(2) The board may require that graduates of foreign medical schools pass the examination given by the education council for foreign medical graduates or successors.

(3) A temporary license certificate may be issued to a physician employed by a public institution who is practicing under the direction of a licensed physician. The board may authorize the department to issue a temporary license certificate subject to terms of probation or other conditions or limitations set by the board or may refuse a temporary license certificate to a person if he who has committed unprofessional conduct. The issuance of a temporary certificate imposes no does not impose any future obligation or duty on the part of the board to grant full licensure or to renew or extend the temporary license certificate. The board may, in the case of an applicant for a temporary certificate, require a written, oral, or practical examination of the applicant."

Section 9. Section 37-3-313, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-313. Registration Renewal fees -- failure to pay -- limiting authority to impose registration renewal fees. (1) In addition to the license fees required of applicants, a licensed physician actively practicing medicine in this state shall pay to the department a registration renewal fee as prescribed by the board.

(2) The payments for registration renewal must be made prior to the expiration date of the registration license, as set forth in a department rule, and a receipt acknowledging payment of the registration fee must be issued by the department. The department shall mail registration renewal notices at least 60 days before the registration renewal is due.

(3) In case of default in the payment of the registration renewal fee by a person licensed to practice medicine who is actively practicing medicine in this state, the underlying certificate license to practice medicine may be revoked considered lapsed by the board on 30 days' notice given to the delinquent of the time and place of considering the revocation. A registered or certified letter addressed to the last-known address of the person failing to comply with the requirements of registration, as the address appears on the records of the department, constitutes sufficient notice of intention to revoke the underlying certificate. A certificate may not be revoked for nonpayment if the person authorized to practice medicine, and notified, pays the registration fee before or at the time fixed for consideration of revocation, together with a delinquency penalty prescribed by the board. The department may collect the dues by an action at law.

(4) A registration or license or renewal fee may not be imposed on a licensee under this chapter by a municipality or any other subdivision of the state."

Section 10. Section 37-3-315, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-315. Qualifications for licensure -- restricted certificate -- suspension -- practice authorized. (1) A person may not be granted a restricted license to practice medicine in this state unless the person:

(a) is of good moral character, as determined by the board;

(b) is a graduate of an approved medical school or college of osteopathic medicine;

(c) is licensed and engaged in the active practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine in another state or foreign country, whose licensing standards are acceptable to the board;

(d) has never been subject to license discipline in any form;

(e) demonstrates evidence of research and publication:

(i) in a peer-reviewed medical journal in the English language;

(ii) in the 2 years preceding receipt of the application; and

(iii) that demonstrate the applicant's competency in the field of medicine in which the restricted license is requested;

(f) has been accepted for privileges in a hospital pending licensure by the board;

(g) has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board the applicant's knowledge, skills, and abilities by providing evidence of at least one of the following criteria:

(i) at least 3 years' postgraduate clinical training in a formal education program;

(ii) board certification in a specialty recognized or certified by the American board of medical specialties; or

(iii) board certification in a specialty recognized or certified by the American osteopathic association; or

(iii)(iv) passing, in the 75th percentile or higher, a board-approved state or national examination in medicine, such as the United States medical licensing examination, the comprehensive osteopathic medical licensing examination, the special purpose examination, the comprehensive osteopathic medical variable-purpose examination, an examination given by the educational commission for foreign medical graduates, or the licensing examination of another state or territory of the United States or Canada;

(h) has submitted a completed application file, which has been reviewed by the board, and has made a personal appearance before the board; and

(i) is able to communicate, in the opinion of the board, in the English language. Passing an examination given by the educational commission for foreign medical graduates or the test of English as a foreign language constitutes prima facie evidence of ability to communicate in the English language.

(2) The restricted license is suspended and subject to revocation after a hearing pursuant to the Montana Administrative Procedure Act upon one of the following:

(a) restriction, termination, or other cessation of the licensee's hospital privileges; or

(b) proof of one of the conditions or offenses identified in 37-3-323.

(3) The holder of a restricted license is limited to the practice of medicine specifically approved by the board after consideration of the applicant's training, skill, and experience. All restrictions, specifications, conditions, and limitations imposed by the board must be stated on the restricted certificate."

Section 11. Section 37-3-345, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-3-345. Qualifications for telemedicine certificate -- basis for denial. The board may not grant a telemedicine certificate to a physician unless the physician has established under oath that the physician:

(1) has a full, active, unrestricted certificate or license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(2) is board-certified or meets the current requirements to take the examination to become board-certified in a medical specialty pursuant to the standards of, and approved by, the American board of medical specialties or the American osteopathic association bureau of osteopathic specialists;

(3) has no history of disciplinary action or limitation of any kind imposed by a state or federal agency in a jurisdiction where the physician is or has ever been licensed to practice medicine;

(4) is not the subject of a pending investigation by a state medical board or another state or federal agency;

(5) has no history of conviction of a crime related to the physician's practice of medicine;

(6) has submitted proof of current malpractice or professional negligence insurance coverage in the amount to be set by the rules of the board;

(7) has not paid, or had paid on the physician's behalf, on more than three claims of professional malpractice or negligence within the 5 years preceding the physician's application for a telemedicine certificate;

(8) has identified an agent for service of process in Montana who is registered with the secretary of state and the board and who may be a physician certified to practice medicine in this state;

(9) has paid an application fee in an amount set by the rules of the board; and

(10) has submitted as a part of the application form a sworn statement attesting that the physician has read, understands, and agrees to abide by Title 37, chapters 1 and 3, and the administrative rules governing the practice of medicine in Montana."

Section 12. Section 37-4-301, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-4-301. Examination -- qualifications -- fees -- certification. (1) Applicants for licensure shall take and pass an examination in order to be licensed. The examination shall must consist of a written part and a practical or clinical part. It may also include, at the board's discretion, an oral interview with the board, which may include questions pertaining to the practice of dentistry. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the written part, successful completion of an examination by the national board of dental examiners and, whenever the board determines necessary, successful completion of a board examination in jurisprudence to be administered at times and places approved by the board. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the practical part, successful completion of an examination by a board-designated regional testing service.

(2) Acceptance by the board of such a written and practical examination shall must be conditioned on evidence that the examination is sufficiently thorough to test the fitness of the applicant to practice dentistry. It shall The examination must include, written in the English language, questions on anatomy, histology, physiology, chemistry, pharmacology and therapeutics, metallurgy, pathology, bacteriology, anesthesia, operative and surgical dentistry, prosthetic dentistry, prophylaxis, orthodontics, periodontics and endodontics, and any additional subjects pertaining to dental service.

(3) The board has the right to administer its own examination in lieu of acceptance of the national board written examination and a regional testing service practical examination. The board is authorized to make rules governing any such examination procedures.

(4) Applicants for licensure shall submit an application, which shall must include, when required:

(a) certification of successful completion of the national board written examination;

(b) certification of successful completion of a regional board practical examination;

(d) certificate of graduation from a board-approved dental school;

(e) an examination fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;

(f) a licensure an application fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;

(g) a recent photograph of the applicant; and

(h) copies of all other state licenses that are held by the applicant.

(5) Applications must be submitted no less than 20 days prior to the board interview and jurisprudence examination.

(6)(5) Applicants may not take the jurisprudence examination or the oral interview without first having completed and passed all other parts of the examination.

(7)(6) Examination results will be accepted for a period of time as set by board rule. An applicant failing to pass his the first examination, if otherwise qualified, may take a subsequent examination upon payment of a fee commensurate with costs and set by the board.

(8)(7) The board is authorized to adopt necessary and reasonable rules governing application procedures."

Section 13. Section 37-4-311, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-4-311. Rehabilitation. The board shall establish a protocol for the referral to a board-approved rehabilitation program for licensed dentists licensees subject to the jurisdiction of the board who are found to be physically or mentally impaired by habitual intemperance or the excessive use of addictive drugs, alcohol, or any other drug or substance or by mental illness or chronic physical illness."

Section 14. Section 37-4-312, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-4-312. Report of incompetence or unprofessional conduct. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of state law dealing with confidentiality, each licensed dentist licensee, professional standards review organization, the Montana dental association or any component society of the association, and any other person may report to the board any information that the dentist licensee, organization, association, society, or person has that appears to show that a dentist licensee is physically or mentally impaired by habitual intemperance or excessive use of addictive drugs, alcohol, or any other drug or substance or by mental illness or chronic physical illness.

(2) (a) Information that relates to possible physical or mental impairment connected to habitual intemperance or the excessive use of addictive drugs, alcohol, or any other drug or substance by a licensee or to other mental or chronic physical illness of a licensee may be reported to the appropriate personnel of the program endorsed by the board under 37-4-311 in lieu of reporting directly to the board.

(b) The program personnel referred to in subsection (2)(a) shall report to the board the identity of a licensee and all facts and documentation in their possession if:

(i) the licensee fails or refuses to comply with a reasonable request that the licensee undergo a mental, physical, or chemical dependency evaluation or a combination of evaluations;

(ii) the licensee fails or refuses to undergo a reasonable course of treatment that they the program personnel recommend, including reasonable aftercare;

(iii) the licensee fails or refuses to satisfactorily complete a reasonable evaluation, a course of treatment, or aftercare; or

(iv) the licensee's condition creates a risk of harm to the licensee, a patient, or others.

(3) This section applies to professional standards review organizations only to the extent that the organizations are not prohibited from disclosing information under federal law."

Section 15. Section 37-4-402, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-4-402. License -- examination. (1) The department may issue licenses for the practice of dental hygiene to qualified applicants to be known as dental hygienists.

(2) Except as provided by rules adopted under 37-1-319, a person may not engage in the practice of dental hygiene or practice as a dental hygienist in this state until the person has passed an examination approved by the board under rules it considers proper and has been issued a license by the department.

(3) Applicants for licensure shall take and pass an examination in order to be licensed. The examination shall must consist of a written part and a practical or clinical part. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the written part, successful completion of an examination by the national board of dental examiners and, whenever the board determines necessary, successful completion of a board examination in jurisprudence. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the practical part, successful completion of an examination by a board-designated regional testing service.

(4) The board has the right to administer its own examination in lieu of acceptance of the national board written examination and a regional testing service practical examination. The board is authorized to make rules governing examination procedures.

(5) Applicants for licensure shall submit an application, which must include, when required:

(a) certification of successful completion of the national board written examination;

(b) certification of successful completion of a regional board practical examination;

(d) certificate of graduation from a board-approved dental hygiene school;

(e) an examination fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;

(f) a licensure an application fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;

(g) a recent photograph of the applicant; and

(h) copies of all other state licenses that are held by the applicant.

(6) Applications must be submitted no less than 20 days prior to the jurisprudence examination. Applicants may not take the jurisprudence examination without first having completed and passed all other parts of the examination.

(7) Examination results will be accepted for a period of time as set by board rule. An applicant failing to pass the first examination, if otherwise qualified, may take a subsequent examination on payment of a fee commensurate with costs and set by the board.

(8) The board is authorized to adopt necessary and reasonable rules governing application procedures."

Section 16. Section 37-6-304, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-6-304. Designations on license -- recording -- renewal -- display. (1) A license issued under this chapter is designated as a "registered podiatrist's license" or a "temporary podiatrist's license".

(2) Licenses must be recorded by the department the same as other medical licenses.

(3) Licenses must be renewed on a date set by department rule.

(4) A license renewal fee set by the board must be paid on a date set by department rule.

(5) The department shall mail renewal notices no later than 60 days prior to the renewal date.

(6) If the renewal fee is not paid on or before the renewal date, the board may revoke the licensee's certificate after giving 30 days' notice to the licensee consider the license lapsed. A certified letter addressed to the delinquent licensee's last-known address as it appears on the records of the department constitutes notice of intent to revoke the certificate. A certificate may not be revoked for nonpayment of a renewal fee if the licensee pays the renewal fee plus a penalty prescribed by the board on or before the date fixed for revocation.

(7) A license revoked for nonpayment of the renewal fee may be reissued only on original application and payment of an additional fee prescribed by the board.

(8) Licenses must be conspicuously displayed by podiatrists at their offices or other places of practice."

Section 17. Section 37-12-102, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-12-102. Exemptions -- limitations on construction of chapter. Nothing in this This chapter shall may not be construed to restrain or restrict any legally licensed physician or surgeon or any legally licensed osteopath in the practice of his profession those professions. The practice of chiropractic as herein defined in this chapter is hereby declared not to be the practice of medicine or surgery within the meaning of the laws of the state of Montana defining the same medicine and surgery and is further declared not to be the practice of osteopathy within the meaning of the laws of the state of Montana defining the same osteopathy. Duly licensed Licensed chiropractors shall are not be subject to the provisions of chapter 5 of this title pertaining to the practice of osteopathy or liable to any prosecution thereunder under those provisions."

Section 18. Section 37-12-302, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-12-302. Applications -- qualifications -- fees. (1) A person wishing to practice chiropractic in this state shall make application to the department, on the form and in the manner prescribed by the board, at least 21 days prior to a meeting of the board. Each applicant must be a graduate of or expect to graduate within 90 days prior to the next licensing examination administered by the board from a college of chiropractic approved by the board, in which the applicant has attended a course of study of 4 school years of not less than 9 months each. The applicant shall present evidence showing proof of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Application must be made in writing, must be sworn to by an officer authorized to administer oaths, and must recite the history of applicant's educational qualifications, how long the applicant has studied chiropractic, of what school or college the applicant is a graduate, and the length of time the applicant has been engaged in practice. The application must be accompanied with copies of diplomas and certificates and satisfactory evidence of good character and reputation.

(2) The applicant shall pay to the department a license fee prescribed by the board. A fee must also be paid for a subsequent examination and application.

(3) A person who is licensed in another state or who previously graduated from or was enrolled in a chiropractic college accredited by the council on chiropractic education on or before October 1, 1995, is exempt from the bachelor's degree requirement."

Section 19. Section 37-12-304, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-12-304. Examinations -- subjects. (1) Examinations for a license to practice chiropractic must be made by the department, subject to 37-1-101, according to the method considered by the board to be the most practicable and expeditious to test the applicant's qualifications. The application must be designated by a number instead of the applicant's name so that the identity will not be discovered or disclosed until after the examination papers are graded Applicants for a license to practice chiropractic must have passed an examination prescribed by the board.

(2) Examinations must be administered on subjects taught in chiropractic colleges, on the provisions of this chapter, and on other provisions of the Montana Code Annotated pertaining to the practice of chiropractic. A license must be granted to applicants who correctly answer 75% of all questions asked, including x-ray questions. If an applicant fails to answer correctly 60% of the questions on any branch of the examination, the applicant is not entitled to a license.

(3)(2) The board may accept the grades an applicant has received in the examinations given by the national board of chiropractic examiners and may authorize the department to issue a license without further examination to an applicant who holds a valid certificate from the national board of chiropractic examiners if the applicant meets the other requirements of this chapter. The board may require an applicant to satisfactorily pass a clinical proficiency examination before being issued a license, even though the applicant holds a valid certificate from the national board of chiropractic examiners."

Section 20. Section 37-13-306, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-13-306. Renewal -- fee -- military exemption. (1) The license to practice acupuncture must be renewed on a date set by the department, without examination and upon request of the licensee. The request for renewal must be on forms prescribed by the board and accompanied by a renewal fee prescribed by the board. The request and fee must be in the hands of the secretary of the board received at the board's office not later than the expiration date of the license.

(2) Immediately following the renewal date, the secretary shall notify all licensees from whom requests for renewal, accompanied by the renewal fee, have not been received that their licenses have expired and that they will be canceled and revoked upon the records of the board unless a request for renewal and reinstatement, accompanied by the renewal fee and an additional fee prescribed by the board, is in the hands of the secretary within 30 days of the renewal date.

(3) If the licensee fails to renew within 30 days following the renewal date, the secretary of the board shall cancel and revoke upon the board's records all licenses that have not been renewed or reinstated as provided by this chapter and shall notify the licensees whose licenses are revoked of the action.

(4) A licensee who allows the license to lapse by failing to renew or reinstate the license as provided in this section may subsequently reinstate the license upon good cause shown to the satisfaction of the board and upon payment of all renewal fees then accrued plus an additional fee prescribed by the board for each renewal period following the cancelling of the license.

(5) A person actively engaged in the military service of the United States and licensed to practice acupuncture as provided in this part is not required to pay the renewal fee or make application for renewal until the renewal date of the calendar period in which the person returns from military service to civilian or inactive status."

Section 21. Section 37-16-403, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-16-403. Examinations -- time and place -- number of failures allowed. (1) An applicant for a license who is notified by the department that the applicant has fulfilled the requirements of 37-16-402 shall appear at a time and place designated by the board to take written and practical examinations in order to demonstrate that the applicant is qualified to practice the fitting of hearing aids and related devices.

(2) An applicant who fails two successive practical examinations is eligible for reexamination after 2 years have elapsed since the date of the applicant's last examination and after the applicant has completed additional training or education recognized by the board."

Section 22. Section 37-19-302, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-19-302. License required for practice of mortuary science -- qualifications of applicants. (1) The practice of embalming or mortuary science by anyone who does not hold a mortician's license issued by the board is prohibited. A person 18 years of age or older wishing to practice mortuary science in this state must apply to the board on the form and in the manner prescribed by the board.

(2) To qualify for a mortician's license, a person must:

(a) be of good moral character;

(b) present evidence of having satisfactorily completed 90 quarter credits or the equivalent of study at an accredited college or university;

(c) in addition to the 90 quarter credits or the equivalent of study required in subsection (2)(b), have graduated with a diploma from an accredited college of mortuary science;

(d) pass an examination prescribed by the board; and

(e) serve a 1-year internship under the supervision of a licensed mortician in a licensed mortuary in Montana after passing the examination provided for in subsection (2)(d).

(3) A person who fails the examination required in subsection (2)(d) may retake it under conditions prescribed by rule of the board."

Section 23. Section 37-19-303, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-19-303. Mortician's license -- application fee. A person possessing the necessary qualifications may apply to the department for a license and on payment of an application fee, as set by the board, may take the examination prescribed by the board. The examination shall be held on the second Wednesday of July each year in Helena and at such other times and places as the board considers necessary."

Section 24. Section 37-20-302, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-20-302. Utilization plan approval fee -- renewal of license -- renewal fee. (1) A utilization plan approval fee must be paid in an amount set by the board. Payment must be made when the utilization plan is submitted to the board and is not refundable.

(2) A locum tenens utilization plan approval fee must be paid in an amount set by the board.

(3) A license issued under this part must be renewed for a period and on a date set by the department of labor and industry.

(4) A license renewal fee set by the board must be paid at the time the license is renewed.

(5) The department of labor and industry shall mail a renewal notice no later than 60 days prior to the renewal date. A certified letter addressed to the delinquent licensee's last-known address as it appears on the records of the department constitutes notice of intent to revoke the license.

(6) If the license renewal fee is not paid on or before the renewal date, the board may revoke consider the license after giving 30 days' notice to the licensee lapsed. A license may not be revoked for nonpayment of a renewal fee if the licensee pays the renewal fee plus a penalty prescribed by the board on or before the date fixed for revocation.

(7) Fees received by the department of labor and industry must be deposited in the state special revenue fund for use by the board in the administration of this chapter, subject to 37-1-101(6)."

Section 25. Section 37-20-303, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-20-303. Exemptions from approval requirement. This chapter does not require the approval of a physician assistant-certified utilization plan or locum tenens utilization plan with respect to any acts within the professional competence of a person licensed under the provisions of Title 37, chapters 3, 4, 6 through 17, 31, or 32."

Section 26. Section 37-26-301, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-26-301. Practice of naturopathic health care -- alternative health care formulary committee. (1) Naturopathic physicians may practice naturopathic medicine as a limited practice of the healing arts as exempted in 37-3-103(1)(n)(m), with the following restrictions. A naturopathic physician may not:

(a) prescribe, dispense, or administer any legend drug, as defined in 50-31-301, except for whole gland thyroid; homeopathic preparations; the natural therapeutic substances, drugs, and therapies described in subsection (2); and oxytocin (pitocin), provided that the naturopathic physician may administer but may not prescribe or dispense oxytocin (pitocin);

(b) administer ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic purposes;

(d) claim to practice any licensed health care profession or system of treatment other than naturopathic medicine unless holding a separate license in that profession.

(2) Naturopathic physicians may prescribe and administer for preventive and therapeutic purposes the following natural therapeutic substances, drugs, and therapies, as well as drugs on the natural substance formulary list provided for in subsection (3):

(a) food, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, whole gland thyroid, botanical medicines, homeopathic preparations, and oxytocin (pitocin);

(b) topical drugs, health care counseling, nutritional counseling and dietary therapy, naturopathic physical applications, therapeutic devices, and nonprescription drugs; and

(3) A five-member alternative health care formulary committee appointed by the board shall establish a natural substance formulary list. The committee consists of a licensed pharmacist plus four members of the board, two of whom must be licensed naturopathic physicians, one who must be a licensed medical doctor, and one who must be a public member. The list may not go beyond the scope of substances covered by approved naturopathic college curricula or continuing education and must be reviewed annually by the committee. Changes to the list that are recommended by the committee and accepted by the board must be published as administrative rules.

(4) Naturopathic physicians may perform or order for diagnostic purposes a physical or orificial examination, ultrasound, phlebotomy, clinical laboratory test or examination, physiological function test, and any other noninvasive diagnostic procedure commonly used by physicians in general practice and as authorized by 37-26-201(2).

(5) Except as provided by this subsection, it is unlawful for a naturopath to engage, directly or indirectly, in the dispensing of any drugs that a naturopath is authorized to prescribe by subsection (2). If the place where a naturopath maintains an office for the practice of naturopathy is more than 10 miles from a place of business that sells and dispenses the drugs a naturopath may prescribe under subsection (2), then, to the extent the drugs are not available within 10 miles of the naturopath's office, the naturopath may sell the drugs that are unavailable."

Section 27. Section 37-27-105, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-27-105. General powers and duties of board -- rulemaking authority. (1) The board shall:

(a) meet at least once annually, and at other times as agreed upon, to elect officers and to perform the duties described in this section; and

(b) administer oaths, take affidavits, summon witnesses, and take testimony as to matters within the scope of the board's duties.

(2) The board shall have the authority to administer and enforce all the powers and duties granted statutorily or adopted administratively.

(3) The board shall adopt rules to administer this chapter. The rules must may include but are not limited to:

(a) the development of a license application and examination, criteria for and grading of examinations, and establishment of examination and license fees commensurate with actual costs;

(b) the issuance of a provisional license to midwives who filed the affidavit required by section 2, Chapter 493, Laws of 1989;

(c) the establishment of criteria for minimum educational, apprenticeship, and clinical requirements that, at a minimum, meet the standards established in 37-27-201;

(d) the development of eligibility criteria for client screening by direct-entry midwives in order to achieve the goal of providing midwifery services to women during low-risk pregnancies;

(e) the development of procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of licenses;

(f) the adoption of disciplinary standards for licensees;

(g) the development of standardized informed consent and reporting forms;

(h) the adoption of ethical standards for licensed direct-entry midwives;

(i) the adoption of supporting documentation requirements for primary birth attendants; and

(j) the establishment of criteria limiting an apprenticeship that, at a minimum, meets the standards established in 37-27-201."

Section 28. Section 37-27-202, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-27-202. Examination -- preparation -- requirements. (1) An examination for a license to practice direct-entry midwifery must be prepared by a certified nurse-midwife designated by the board in consultation with the physician on national testing agency approved by the board.

(2) Examinations must be conducted once each year, be fair and impartial, and be sufficiently comprehensive to adequately test the applicant's competence and ability.

(3) In order to be licensed, a person shall must attain a passing grade on the examination, as set by the board.

(4) A person who fails to achieve a passing grade on the examination may not engage in the practice of midwifery."

Section 29. Section 37-29-304, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-29-304. Applications and fees Fees. (1) The board is initially entitled to charge and collect the following fees:

(a) $200 application for licensing;

(b) $200 for original license;

(d) $200 for examination or reexamination, provided that if on reexamination only the written examination is required, the fee is $100; and

(e) $50 for a duplicate or replacement license or a license for a second address, provided that a denturist may not hold licenses bearing more than two different addresses.

(2) The board may shall set other fees and modify the initial fees commensurate with costs in accordance with the provisions of 37-1-134."

Section 30. Section 39-71-116, MCA, is amended to read:

"39-71-116. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Actual wage loss" means that the wages that a worker earns or is qualified to earn after the worker reaches maximum healing are less than the actual wages the worker received at the time of the injury.

(2) "Administer and pay" includes all actions by the state fund under the Workers' Compensation Act and the Occupational Disease Act of Montana necessary to:

(a) investigation, review, and settlement of claims;

(b) payment of benefits;

(d) furnishing of services and facilities; and

(e) use of actuarial, audit, accounting, vocational rehabilitation, and legal services.

(3) "Aid or sustenance" means a public or private subsidy made to provide a means of support, maintenance, or subsistence for the recipient.

(4) "Average weekly wage" means the mean weekly earnings of all employees under covered employment, as defined and established annually by the department. It is established at the nearest whole dollar number and must be adopted by the department before July 1 of each year.

(5) "Beneficiary" means:

(a) a surviving spouse living with or legally entitled to be supported by the deceased at the time of injury;

(b) an unmarried child under 18 years of age;

(c) an unmarried child under 22 years of age who is a full-time student in an accredited school or is enrolled in an accredited apprenticeship program;

(d) an invalid child over 18 years of age who is dependent, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 152, upon the decedent for support at the time of injury;

(e) a parent who is dependent, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 152, upon the decedent for support at the time of the injury if a beneficiary, as defined in subsections (5)(a) through (5)(d), does not exist; and

(f) a brother or sister under 18 years of age if dependent, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 152, upon the decedent for support at the time of the injury but only until the age of 18 years and only when a beneficiary, as defined in subsections (5)(a) through (5)(e), does not exist.

(6) "Business partner" means the community, governmental entity, or business organization that provides the premises for work-based learning activities for students.

(7) "Casual employment" means employment not in the usual course of the trade, business, profession, or occupation of the employer.

(8) "Child" includes a posthumous child, a dependent stepchild, and a child legally adopted prior to the injury.

(9) "Construction industry" means the major group of general contractors and operative builders, heavy construction (other than building construction) contractors, and special trade contractors, listed in major group 23 in the North American Industry Classification System Manual. The term does not include office workers, design professionals, salespersons, estimators, or any other related employment that is not directly involved on a regular basis in the provision of physical labor at a construction or renovation site.

(10) "Days" means calendar days, unless otherwise specified.

(11) "Department" means the department of labor and industry.

(12) "Fiscal year" means the period of time between July 1 and the succeeding June 30.

(13) "Household or domestic employment" means employment of persons other than members of the household for the purpose of tending to the aid and comfort of the employer or members of the employer's family, including but not limited to housecleaning and yard work, but does not include employment beyond the scope of normal household or domestic duties, such as home health care or domiciliary care.

(14) "Insurer" means an employer bound by compensation plan No. 1, an insurance company transacting business under compensation plan No. 2, or the state fund under compensation plan No. 3.

(15) "Invalid" means one who is physically or mentally incapacitated.

(16) "Limited liability company" is as defined in 35-8-102.

(17) "Maintenance care" means treatment designed to provide the optimum state of health while minimizing recurrence of the clinical status.

(18) "Medical stability", "maximum healing", or "maximum medical healing" means a point in the healing process when further material improvement would not be reasonably expected from primary medical treatment.

(19) "Objective medical findings" means medical evidence, including range of motion, atrophy, muscle strength, muscle spasm, or other diagnostic evidence, substantiated by clinical findings.

(20) "Order" means any decision, rule, direction, requirement, or standard of the department or any other determination arrived at or decision made by the department.

(21) "Palliative care" means treatment designed to reduce or ease symptoms without curing the underlying cause of the symptoms.

(22) "Payroll", "annual payroll", or "annual payroll for the preceding year" means the average annual payroll of the employer for the preceding calendar year or, if the employer has not operated a sufficient or any length of time during the calendar year, 12 times the average monthly payroll for the current year. However, an estimate may be made by the department for any employer starting in business if average payrolls are not available. This estimate must be adjusted by additional payment by the employer or refund by the department, as the case may actually be, on December 31 of the current year. An employer's payroll must be computed by calculating all wages, as defined in 39-71-123, that are paid by an employer.

(23) "Permanent partial disability" means a physical condition in which a worker, after reaching maximum medical healing:

(a) has a permanent impairment established by objective medical findings;

(b) is able to return to work in some capacity but the permanent impairment impairs the worker's ability to work; and

(24) "Permanent total disability" means a physical condition resulting from injury as defined in this chapter, after a worker reaches maximum medical healing, in which a worker does not have a reasonable prospect of physically performing regular employment. Regular employment means work on a recurring basis performed for remuneration in a trade, business, profession, or other occupation in this state. Lack of immediate job openings is not a factor to be considered in determining if a worker is permanently totally disabled.

(25) The "plant of the employer" includes the place of business of a third person while the employer has access to or control over the place of business for the purpose of carrying on the employer's usual trade, business, or occupation.

(26) "Primary medical services" means treatment prescribed by a treating physician, for conditions resulting from the injury, necessary for achieving medical stability.

(27) "Public corporation" means the state or a county, municipal corporation, school district, city, city under a commission form of government or special charter, town, or village.

(28) "Reasonably safe place to work" means that the place of employment has been made as free from danger to the life or safety of the employee as the nature of the employment will reasonably permit.

(29) "Reasonably safe tools and appliances" are tools and appliances that are adapted to and that are reasonably safe for use for the particular purpose for which they are furnished.

(30) (a) "Secondary medical services" means those medical services or appliances that are considered not medically necessary for medical stability. The services and appliances include but are not limited to spas or hot tubs, work hardening, physical restoration programs and other restoration programs designed to address disability and not impairment, or equipment offered by individuals, clinics, groups, hospitals, or rehabilitation facilities.

(b) (i) As used in this subsection (30), "disability" means a condition in which a worker's ability to engage in gainful employment is diminished as a result of physical restrictions resulting from an injury. The restrictions may be combined with factors, such as the worker's age, education, work history, and other factors that affect the worker's ability to engage in gainful employment.

(ii) Disability does not mean a purely medical condition.

(31) "Sole proprietor" means the person who has the exclusive legal right or title to or ownership of a business enterprise.

(32) "Temporary partial disability" means a physical condition resulting from an injury, as defined in 39-71-119, in which a worker, prior to maximum healing:

(a) is temporarily unable to return to the position held at the time of injury because of a medically determined physical restriction;

(b) returns to work in a modified or alternative employment; and

(33) "Temporary service contractor" means a person, firm, association, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation conducting business that hires its own employees and assigns them to clients to fill a work assignment with a finite ending date to support or supplement the client's workforce in situations resulting from employee absences, skill shortages, seasonal workloads, and special assignments and projects.

(34) "Temporary total disability" means a physical condition resulting from an injury, as defined in this chapter, that results in total loss of wages and exists until the injured worker reaches maximum medical healing.

(35) "Temporary worker" means a worker whose services are furnished to another on a part-time or temporary basis to fill a work assignment with a finite ending date to support or supplement a workforce in situations resulting from employee absences, skill shortages, seasonal workloads, and special assignments and projects.

(36) "Treating physician" means a person who is primarily responsible for the treatment of a worker's compensable injury and is:

(a) a physician licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 3, and has admitting privileges to practice in one or more hospitals, if any, in the area where the physician is located;

(b) a chiropractor licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 12;

(c) a physician assistant-certified licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 20, if there is not a treating physician, as provided for in subsection (36)(a), in the area where the physician assistant-certified is located;

(d) an osteopath licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 5 3;

(e) a dentist licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 4;

(f) for a claimant residing out of state or upon approval of the insurer, a treating physician defined in subsections (36)(a) through (36)(e) who is licensed or certified in another state; or

(g) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the state of Montana under Title 37, chapter 8, recognized by the board of nursing as a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist, and practicing in consultation with a physician licensed under Title 37, chapter 3, if there is not a treating physician, as provided for in subsection (36)(a), in the area in which the advanced practice registered nurse is located.

(37) "Work-based learning activities" means job training and work experience conducted on the premises of a business partner as a component of school-based learning activities authorized by an elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational institution.

(38) "Year", unless otherwise specified, means calendar year."

Section 31. Section 50-5-105, MCA, is amended to read:

"50-5-105. Discrimination prohibited. (1) All phases of the operation of a health care facility must be without discrimination against anyone on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or political ideas.

(2) (a) A health care facility may not refuse to admit a person to the facility solely because the person has an HIV-related condition.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection (2), the following definitions apply:

(i) "HIV" means the human immunodeficiency virus identified as the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and includes all HIV and HIV-related viruses that damage the cellular branch of the human immune or neurological system and leave the infected person immunodeficient or neurologically impaired.

(ii) "HIV-related condition" means any medical condition resulting from an HIV infection, including but not limited to seropositivity for HIV.

(3) A person who operates a facility may not discriminate among the patients of licensed physicians. The free and confidential professional relationship between a licensed physician and patient must continue and remain unaffected.

(4) Except for a hospital that employs its medical staff, a hospital considering an application for staff membership or granting privileges within the scope of the applicant's license may not deny the application or privileges because the applicant is licensed under Title 37, chapter 5 or 6.

(5) This section does not preclude a hospital from limiting membership or privileges based on education, training, or other relevant criteria."

Section 32. Repealer. Sections 37-5-101, 37-5-102, 37-5-301, 37-5-302, 37-5-305, 37-5-307, and 37-5-312, MCA, are repealed.

Section 33. Coordination instruction. If House Bill No. 285 and [this act] are both passed and approved, then [section 20 of this act] is amended to read:

"Section 20. Section 37-13-306, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-13-306. Renewal -- fee -- military exemption. (1) The Except as provided in [section 2 of House Bill No. 285], the license to practice acupuncture must be renewed on a date set by the department, without examination and upon request of the licensee. The request for renewal must be on forms a form prescribed by the board and accompanied by a renewal fee prescribed by the board. The request and fee must be in the hands of the secretary of the board received at the board's office not later than the expiration date of the license.

Section 34. Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.

Section 35. Saving clause. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].

Section 36. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2003.

- END -

Latest Version of SB 109 (SB0109.ENR)
Processed for the Web on March 24, 2003 (1:07pm)

New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.

Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.

See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.

Status of this Bill | 2003 Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill inPDF
Authorized print version w/line numbers (PDF format)

Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064