2017 Montana Legislature

HOUSE BILL NO. 228

INTRODUCED BY J. KEANE

AN ACT REVISING FUNDING FOR THE MONTANA GREATER SAGE-GROUSE STEWARDSHIP ACT; DECREASING PREVIOUS TRANSFERS AND APPROPRIATIONS; PROVIDING FOR FUTURE TRANSFERS AND STATUTORY APPROPRIATIONS; ALLOWING FUNDING TO BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-1-122, 17-1-508, 17-7-502, AND 76-22-109, MCA, AND SECTION 18, CHAPTER 445, LAWS OF 2015; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES AND A TERMINATION DATE.

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

Section 1. Section 15-1-122, MCA, is amended to read:

"15-1-122. (Bracketed language effective July 1, 2021) Fund transfers. (1) There is transferred from the state general fund to the adoption services account, provided for in 42-2-105, a base amount of $59,209, and the amount of the transfer must be increased by 10% in each succeeding fiscal year.

(2) For fiscal years 2016 through 2019, there is transferred $1.275 million on an annual basis from the state general fund to the research and commercialization state special revenue account provided for in 90-3-1002.

(3) For each fiscal year, there is transferred from the state general fund to the accounts, entities, or recipients indicated the following amounts:

(a) to the motor vehicle recycling and disposal program provided for in Title 75, chapter 10, part 5, 1.48% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year. The amount of 9.48% of the allocation in each fiscal year must be used for the purpose of reimbursing the hired removal of abandoned vehicles. Any portion of the allocation not used for abandoned vehicle removal reimbursement must be used as provided in 75-10-532.

(b) to the noxious weed state special revenue account provided for in 80-7-816, 1.50% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year;

(i) 0.46% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund, with the applicable percentage to be:

(A) used to:

(I) acquire and maintain pumpout equipment and other boat facilities, 4.8% in each fiscal year;

(II) administer and enforce the provisions of Title 23, chapter 2, part 5, 19.1% in each fiscal year;

(III) enforce the provisions of 23-2-804, 11.1% in each fiscal year; and

(IV) develop and implement a comprehensive program and to plan appropriate off-highway vehicle recreational use, 16.7% in each fiscal year; and

(B) deposited in the state special revenue fund established in 23-1-105 in an amount equal to 48.3% in each fiscal year;

(ii) 0.10% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year, with 50% of the amount to be used for enforcing the purposes of Title 23, chapter 2, part 6, and 50% of the amount designated for use in the development, maintenance, and operation of snowmobile facilities; and

(iii) 0.16% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year to be deposited in the motorboat account to be used as provided in 23-2-533;

(d) 0.81% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year, with 24.55% to be deposited in the state veterans' cemetery account provided for in 10-2-603 and with 75.45% to be deposited in the veterans' services account provided for in 10-2-112(1); and

(e) to the search and rescue account provided for in 10-3-801, 0.04% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year.

(4) The amount of $200,000 is transferred from the state general fund to the livestock loss [reduction and] mitigation restricted state special revenue account provided for in 81-1-112 in each fiscal year.

(5) For fiscal years 2018 through 2021, there is transferred $2 million on an annual basis from the state general fund to the sage grouse stewardship account provided for in 76-22-109.

(5)(6) For the purposes of this section, "motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund" means revenue received from:

(a) fees for issuing a motor vehicle title paid pursuant to 61-3-203;

(b) fees, fees in lieu of taxes, and taxes for vehicles, vessels, and snowmobiles registered or reregistered pursuant to 61-3-321 and 61-3-562;

(d) all money collected pursuant to 15-1-504(3).

(6)(7) Except as provided in subsection subsections (2) and (5), the amounts transferred from the general fund to the designated recipient must be appropriated as state special revenue in the general appropriations act for the designated purposes. (Bracketed language in subsection (4) effective July 1, 2021--sec. 8, Ch. 349, L. 2015.)"

Section 2. Section 17-1-508, MCA, is amended to read:

"17-1-508. Review of statutory appropriations. (1) Each biennium, the office of budget and program planning shall, in development of the executive budget, review and identify instances in which statutory appropriations in current law do not appear consistent with the guidelines set forth in subsection (2).

(2) The review of statutory appropriations must determine whether a statutory appropriation meets the requirements of 17-7-502. Except as provided in 76-22-109 and 77-1-108, a statutory appropriation from a continuing and reliable source of revenue may not be used to fund administrative costs. In reviewing and establishing statutory appropriations, the legislature shall consider the following guidelines. A proposed or existing statutory appropriation may not be considered appropriate if:

(a) the money is from a continuing, reliable, and estimable source;

(b) the use of the appropriation or the expenditure occurrence is predictable and reliable;

(d) an alternative appropriation method is available, practical, or effective;

(e) it appropriates state general fund money for purposes other than paying for emergency services;

(f) the money is used for general purposes;

(g) the legislature wishes to review expenditure and appropriation levels each biennium; and

(h) an expenditure cap and sunset date are excluded.

(3) The office of budget and program planning shall prepare a fiscal note for each piece of legislation that proposes to create or amend a statutory appropriation. It shall, consistent with the guidelines in this section, review each of these pieces of legislation. Its findings concerning the statutory appropriation must be contained in the fiscal note accompanying that legislation."

Section 3. Section 17-7-502, MCA, is amended to read:

"17-7-502. Statutory appropriations -- definition -- requisites for validity. (1) A statutory appropriation is an appropriation made by permanent law that authorizes spending by a state agency without the need for a biennial legislative appropriation or budget amendment.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4), to be effective, a statutory appropriation must comply with both of the following provisions:

(a) The law containing the statutory authority must be listed in subsection (3).

(b) The law or portion of the law making a statutory appropriation must specifically state that a statutory appropriation is made as provided in this section.

(3) The following laws are the only laws containing statutory appropriations: 2-17-105; 5-11-120; 5-11-407; 5-13-403; 7-4-2502; 10-1-108; 10-1-1202; 10-1-1303; 10-2-603; 10-3-203; 10-3-310; 10-3-312; 10-3-314; 10-4-301; 15-1-121; 15-1-218; 15-35-108; 15-36-332; 15-37-117; 15-39-110; 15-65-121; 15-70-101; 15-70-433; 15-70-601; 16-11-509; 17-3-106; 17-3-112; 17-3-212; 17-3-222; 17-3-241; 17-6-101; 17-7-215; 18-11-112; 19-3-319; 19-6-404; 19-6-410; 19-9-702; 19-13-604; 19-17-301; 19-18-512; 19-19-305; 19-19-506; 19-20-604; 19-20-607; 19-21-203; 20-8-107; 20-9-517; 20-9-520; 20-9-534; 20-9-622; 20-9-905; 20-26-617; 20-26-1503; 22-1-327; 22-3-116; 22-3-117; 22-3-1004; 23-4-105; 23-5-306; 23-5-409; 23-5-612; 23-7-301; 23-7-402; 30-10-1004; 37-43-204; 37-50-209; 37-51-501; 39-71-503; 41-5-2011; 42-2-105; 44-4-1101; 44-12-213; 44-13-102; 50-1-115; 53-1-109; 53-6-1304; 53-9-113; 53-24-108; 53-24-206; 60-11-115; 61-3-415; 69-3-870; 75-1-1101; 75-5-1108; 75-6-214; 75-11-313; 76-13-150; 76-13-416; 76-22-109; 77-1-108; 77-2-362; 80-2-222; 80-4-416; 80-11-518; 81-1-112; 81-7-106; 81-10-103; 82-11-161; 85-20-1504; 85-20-1505; [85-25-102]; 87-1-603; 90-1-115; 90-1-205; 90-1-504; 90-3-1003; 90-6-331; and 90-9-306.

(4) There is a statutory appropriation to pay the principal, interest, premiums, and costs of issuing, paying, and securing all bonds, notes, or other obligations, as due, that have been authorized and issued pursuant to the laws of Montana. Agencies that have entered into agreements authorized by the laws of Montana to pay the state treasurer, for deposit in accordance with 17-2-101 through 17-2-107, as determined by the state treasurer, an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest as due on the bonds or notes have statutory appropriation authority for the payments. (In subsection (3): pursuant to sec. 10, Ch. 360, L. 1999, the inclusion of 19-20-604 terminates contingently when the amortization period for the teachers' retirement system's unfunded liability is 10 years or less; pursuant to sec. 10, Ch. 10, Sp. L. May 2000, secs. 3 and 6, Ch. 481, L. 2003, and sec. 2, Ch. 459, L. 2009, the inclusion of 15-35-108 terminates June 30, 2019; pursuant to sec. 73, Ch. 44, L. 2007, the inclusion of 19-6-410 terminates contingently upon the death of the last recipient eligible under 19-6-709(2) for the supplemental benefit provided by 19-6-709; pursuant to sec. 5, Ch. 442, L. 2009, the inclusion of 90-6-331 terminates June 30, 2019; pursuant to sec. 16, Ch. 58, L. 2011, the inclusion of 30-10-1004 terminates June 30, 2017; pursuant to sec. 6, Ch. 61, L. 2011, the inclusion of 76-13-416 terminates June 30, 2019; pursuant to sec. 13, Ch. 339, L. 2011, the inclusion of 81-1-112 and 81-7-106 terminates June 30, 2017; pursuant to sec. 11(2), Ch. 17, L. 2013, the inclusion of 17-3-112 terminates on occurrence of contingency; pursuant to sec. 5, Ch. 244, L. 2013, the inclusion of 22-1-327 terminates July 1, 2017; pursuant to sec. 27, Ch. 285, L. 2015, and sec. 1, Ch. 292, L. 2015, the inclusion of 53-9-113 terminates June 30, 2021; pursuant to sec. 6, Ch. 291, L. 2015, the inclusion of 50-1-115 terminates June 30, 2021; pursuant to sec. 28, Ch. 368, L. 2015, the inclusion of 53-6-1304 terminates June 30, 2019; pursuant to sec. 5, Ch. 383, L. 2015, the inclusion of 85-25-102 is effective on occurrence of contingency; pursuant to sec. 5, Ch. 422, L. 2015, the inclusion of 17-7-215 terminates June 30, 2021; pursuant to sec. 6, Ch. 423, L. 2015, the inclusion of 22-3-116 and 22-3-117 terminates June 30, 2025; pursuant to sec. 10, Ch. 427, L. 2015, the inclusion of 37-50-209 terminates September 30, 2019; and pursuant to sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015, the inclusion of 20-9-905 terminates December 31, 2023.)"

Section 4. Section 76-22-109, MCA, is amended to read:

"76-22-109. Sage grouse stewardship account. (1) There is a sage grouse stewardship account in the state special revenue fund established in 17-2-102. Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money Money deposited in the account is statutorily appropriated, as provided in 17-7-502, and must be used for the administration of and pursuant to the provisions of this part to maintain, enhance, restore, expand, or benefit sage grouse habitat and populations for the heritage of Montana and its people.

(2) The following funds must be deposited in the account:

(a) each fiscal year, the amount provided in 15-1-122 that is transferred to the account from the state general fund;

(a)(b) money received by the department in the form of grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, payments for credits or financial contributions made pursuant to 76-22-111, and donations, including donations limited in their purpose by the grantor, or appropriations from any source intended to be used for the purposes of this account; and

(b)(c) any interest or income earned on the account.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the department shall make disbursements from the account to projects approved by the oversight team to receive grants.

(4) The majority of the funds in the account may not be disbursed before the habitat quantification tool has been adopted. The habitat quantification tool must be applied to any project funded after the habitat quantification tool has been adopted. The majority of the account funds must be awarded to projects that generate credits that are available for compensatory mitigation under 76-22-111. When selecting projects to receive funds, the oversight team shall prioritize projects that maximize the amount of credits generated per dollars of funds awarded.

(5) Money deposited in the account may not be used:

(a) for fee simple acquisition of private land;

(b) to purchase water rights;

(c) to purchase a lease or conservation easement that requires recreational access or prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping as part of its terms; or

(d) to allow the release of any species listed under 87-5-107 or the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.

(6) Administrative costs paid from the account are limited to $400,000 in each fiscal year.

(6)(7) Any unspent or unencumbered money in the account at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the account."

Section 5. Section 76-22-109, MCA, is amended to read:

(2) The following funds must be deposited in the account:

(a) money received by the department in the form of grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, payments for credits or financial contributions made pursuant to 76-22-111, and donations, including donations limited in their purpose by the grantor, or appropriations from any source intended to be used for the purposes of this account; and

(b) any interest or income earned on the account.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the department shall make disbursements from the account to projects approved by the oversight team to receive grants.

(5) Money deposited in the account may not be used:

(a) for fee simple acquisition of private land;

(b) to purchase water rights;

(c) to purchase a lease or conservation easement that requires recreational access or prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping as part of its terms; or

(d) to allow the release of any species listed under 87-5-107 or the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.

(6) Administrative costs paid from the account are limited to $400,000 in each fiscal year.

(6)(7) Any unspent or unencumbered money in the account at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the account."

Section 6. Section 18, Chapter 445, Laws of 2015, is amended to read:

"Section 18. Coordination instruction. If both House Bill No. 2 and [this act] are passed and approved, then:

(1) [sections 14 and 15 of this act] are void;

(2) the general fund appropriation to the department of natural resources and conservation for the sage grouse conservation fund contained in House Bill No. 2 is void;

(3) for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, $10 $2 million is transferred from the general fund to the sage grouse stewardship account established in [section 7 of this act]; and

(4) for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, $10 $2 million is appropriated from the sage grouse stewardship account established in [section 7 of this act] to the department of natural resources and conservation for the purposes of [this act]. If the United States fish and wildlife service lists the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq., any unencumbered portion of the appropriation made pursuant to this subsection (4) must revert to the general fund."

Section 7. Effective date. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval.

(2) [Section 5] is effective July 1, 2021.

Section 8. Termination. [Sections 1 and 4] terminate June 30, 2021.

- END -

Latest Version of HB 228 (HB0228.ENR)
Processed for the Web on April 18, 2017 (7:31pm)

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 | 2017 Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill (PDF format)
Authorized print version of this bill (PDF format)
[ NEW SEARCH ]

Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064