2019 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 464

INTRODUCED BY J. KROTKOV

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS TASK FORCE; ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."

 

     WHEREAS, many hazardous material loads are transported on Montana's railways and highways, and rural fire departments have limited capacities to respond to hazardous material spills; and

     WHEREAS, the State Emergency Response Commission established in 10-3-1204 has developed a hazardous materials response plan reliant on regional hazardous materials response teams for technical assistance, and those teams are not always able to reach remote locations in a timely fashion; and

     WHEREAS, rural fire departments report that they are unable to respond to hazardous material spills adequately, and there is no plan in place to improve their ability to respond; and

     WHEREAS, the state would benefit from new and diverse sources of information to offer a unique set of solutions to hazardous materials response challenges that are specific to Montana.

 

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

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 1.  Hazardous materials response and preparedness task force -- membership -- duties -- reporting. (1) There is a hazardous materials response and preparedness task force administratively attached to the department of transportation.

     (2) Task force members are appointed as follows:

     (a) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker with the concurrence of the minority leader, one from the majority party and one from the minority party;

     (b) two senators appointed by the president with the concurrence of the minority leader, one from the majority party and one from the minority party; and

     (c) 10 members appointed by the governor, none of whom may be a currently serving legislator. These members include:

     (i) four representatives from local emergency response organizations, such as law enforcement, emergency medical service providers, and hazardous response teams;

     (ii) two representatives who are also members of a state-recognized or federally recognized Indian tribe located within the boundaries of Montana;

     (iii) one representative from a county or local government;

     (iv) one representative from the public service commission;

     (v) one representative from the railway industry; and

     (vi) one representative from the trucking industry.

     (3) The task force shall:

     (a) examine state railroad inspections to determine if inspections are adequate to address safety issues and prevent derailments;

     (b) assess any other areas the task force considers necessary to work toward reducing the risk of a rail or roadway accident involving hazardous materials; and

     (c) offer recommendations that include suggestions to improve responder retention, recruitment, and capacity.

     (4) The task force shall complete its work and issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the state emergency response commission, the public service commission, and the state administration and veterans' affairs interim committee provided for in 5-5-228 by September 15, 2020.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 2.  Appropriation. There is appropriated $20,000 from the general fund to the public service commission for the biennium beginning July 1, 2019, to convene the task force established in [section 1].

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 3.  Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 4.  Termination. [This act] terminates December 31, 2020.

- END -

 


Latest Version of HB 464 (HB0464.01)
Processed for the Web on February 13, 2019 (4:52pm)

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