house bill NO. 522

INTRODUCED BY E. Buttrey, D. Bedey, S. Berglee, A. Buckley, F. Garner

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MILITARY STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC IMPACT TASK FORCE CONCERNING RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND FORCE STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN MONTANA; ALLOCATING THE TASK FORCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP, EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT, AND DUTIES; creating a state special revenue account; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and a termination date."

WHEREAS, the Montana National Guard provides more than $158 million in economic impetus to the State of Montana, and the total federal economic impetus of the Montana Department of Military Affairs and the National Guard to the State of Montana is over $415 million; and

WHEREAS, Malmstrom Air Force Base provides more than $655 million in economic impetus to the State of Montana, airmen stationed at Malmstrom own over 1,200 homes in Montana, military construction and service contracts provide more than $53 million to local developers, the base spends more than $9.4 million for utilities, and Malmstrom services more than 7,500 miles of roads in Montana, which benefits Montana's commerce; and

WHEREAS, the federal sequestration, fiscal cliff, base realignment and closure activities, and other cost-cutting measures will put current military missions and assets in Montana and, therefore, Montana's economic well-being at risk, now and well into the future; and

WHEREAS, for decades the task of advocating for our military missions in Montana has been accomplished by a private organization in Cascade County supported by local government and private area businesses, and this organization, the Montana Defense Alliance, has been limited by the lack of formal State of Montana recognition and support; and

WHEREAS, most states with military missions and assets have formed state government-sanctioned advocacy groups to help protect existing military force structures in their states, identify new missions, educate the public, and promote economic development tied to the military, and Montana is one of the few states lacking this type of statewide organization, which clearly affects Montana's ability to be successful as national cuts to the military are implemented; and

WHEREAS, the current level of competition from other states requires an advocacy effort sanctioned by the State of Montana in order to retain our existing military assets and promote new mission opportunities as well as military-related manufacturing.

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

Section 1. Montana military strategic and economic impact task force -- membership -- compensation -- duties. (1) (a) There is a Montana military strategic and economic impact task force consisting of eight members. Seven members must be appointed by the governor on recommendation of the person or entities, if applicable, as provided in subsections (1)(b)(i) through (1)(b)(vii). One member must be appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives as provided in subsection (1)(b)(viii). Each member must be a resident of the state.

(b) The members are:

(i) the adjutant general or an alternate member of the governor's staff as selected by the governor;

(ii) a member representing the business community as recommended by a statewide organization that represents Montana businesses;

(iii) a representative of local government having zoning authority over issues such as encroachment of military installations, as appointed by the county commission of the county with the largest active duty military financial impact in the state;

(iv) a member representing veterans of the armed forces;

(v) a representative of an economic development or military advocacy organization from the county with the highest number of military members in the state, as appointed by the county commission of the county with the highest number of military members in the state;

(vi) a member representing the enlisted men and women of the armed forces as recommended by a statewide organization that represents the enlisted men and women of the armed forces;

(vii) a member representing military and aerospace manufacturing in the state as recommended by a statewide organization that represents manufacturing businesses in the state; and

(viii) a member representing the legislature who is a state senator or state representative at the time of appointment. The legislative representative must be selected jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.

(2) (a) The task force shall elect a presiding officer from among its voting members. Task force meetings are subject to the open meetings laws provided in Title 2, chapter 3, part 2.

(b) The task force is allocated to the department of commerce for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121, which shall provide staff and administrative support to the task force.

(3) The purpose of the task force is to:

(a) advocate for retention and development of military missions, installations, and force structures that provide economic development opportunities in the state and serve a role in the defense strategy of the nation; and

(b) educate the public, legislature, and congressional delegation about the economic and strategic impact of current and future military development in the state.

(4) In fulfilling its purpose under subsection (3), the task force shall:

(a) examine potential base realignment and closure actions;

(b) study the economic impact that the active and reserve component military missions and force structures in the state have on the state's economy and the strategic impact for the nation of those programs and assets;

(c) develop a strategic plan for how to position the state with respect to potential base realignment and closure actions so that the state has the best possible opportunity to retain and develop future military economic development opportunities and to play a role in the nation's strategy for national defense;

(d) provide regular updates on task force activities to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives;

(e) prepare reports and presentations consistent with its purpose and duties;

(f) lobby members of congress and act as a liaison with civilian and military personnel engaged in making decisions concerning current and potential military missions and active and reserve component force structures in the state; and

(g) work and coordinate with other local and state military advocacy organizations as necessary.

(5) The economic impact study in subsection (4)(b) will commence upon funding of the special revenue account outlined in [section 2].

(6) The task force shall formulate a budget and submit a copy of that budget to the state administration and veterans' affairs interim committee by December 31, 2021.

Section 2. Military strategic and economic impact task force special revenue account. (1) There is a military strategic and economic impact task force special revenue account to the credit of the department of commerce.

(2) The account consists of grants, gifts, and donations from public and private sources that are made to the department of commerce for the purpose of supporting the military strategic and economic impact task force provided for in [section 1].

(3) Money in the account must be used by the department of commerce to support the economic impact study carried out by the military strategic and economic impact task force.

(4) Money in the account that is unencumbered and unexpended at the end of the biennium must be transferred to the department of commerce. The department shall use the reverted money to provide administrative services to the military strategic and economic impact task force.

Section 3. Appropriation. There is appropriated $150,000 from the general fund to the department of commerce for each year of the biennium ending June 30, 2023, to establish and administer the military strategic and economic impact task force.

Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 2, chapter 15, part 18, and the provisions of Title 2, chapter 15, part 18, apply to [sections 1 and 2].

Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.

Section 6. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2025.