INTRODUCED
BY J. Ellis
By Request of the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN THE 9-1-1 GRANT PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTION 10-4-306, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 10-4-306, MCA, is amended to read:
"10-4-306. 9-1-1 grants. (1) The department shall, in consultation with the 9-1-1 advisory council created pursuant to 10-4-105, award competitive grants annually using the account established pursuant to 10-4-304(2)(b) for private telecommunications providers and for local and tribal government entities that host public safety answering points. Beginning July 1, 2018, grants must be awarded to private telecommunications providers, or to local or tribal government entities that host public safety answering points, or both to all in accordance with this section and with rules adopted by the department in accordance with 10-4-108.
(2) In accordance with subsection (3), grants may be awarded to private telecommunications providers and to local or tribal government entities that host public safety answering points for:
(a) emergency telecommunications systems plans;
(b) project feasibility studies or project plans;
(c) the implementation, operation, and maintenance of 9-1-1 systems, equipment, devices, and data; and
(d) the purchase of services that support 9-1-1 systems.
(3) In awarding grants, preference must be given to applications in the following order of priority:
(a) requests by private telecommunications providers or by local or tribal government entities that host public safety answering points by working with a private telecommunications provider; and
(b) requests by local or tribal government entities that host public safety answering points.
(4) Nothing in this section prevents a local or tribal government entity that hosts a public safety answering point in accordance with this section from:
(a) providing grant money received by the local or tribal government entity to a private telecommunications provider for 9-1-1 purposes; or
(b) collaborating with another local or tribal government entity on a joint grant application."
Section 2. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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