_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the Department of Commerce

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REMOVING REFERENCES TO AND REPEALING THE BOARD OF RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION TECHNOLOGY; AMENDING SECTION 90-1-120, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 2-15-1819, MCA; And PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 90-1-120, MCA, is amended to read:

"90-1-120. Trade activities. The department of commerce through its state trade expansion program or an equivalent program shall:

(1) promote the state through trade show delegations at key events regionally, nationally, and globally;

(2) work with the Montana agriculture development council, the tourism advisory council, the Montana manufacturing extension center, the Montana board of research and commercialization technology, the state workforce innovation board, and other state and national entities to improve funding for and access to supportive services for rural-based, veteran-owned, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses;

(3) work with local chambers of commerce, the governor's office of economic development, certified regional development corporations, and other economic development organizations in this state to inform citizens in this state in the most cost-effective manner possible of the services available through the department."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Repealer. The following section of the Montana Code Annotated is repealed:

2-15-1819.        Board of research and commercialization technology.

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