House bill NO. 377

INTRODUCED BY L. Reksten, S. Vinton, T. Moore, M. Bertoglio, C. Sprunger

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MONTANA 250TH COMMISSION TO COORDINATE STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO CELEBRATE THE UNITED STATES SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL; ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE.

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

Section 1. Montana 250th commission. (1) There is a Montana 250th commission formed to promote civic engagement and increase public awareness of United States and Montana government and history, including the history of tribal nations, leading up to the United States semiquincentennial. The commission is allocated to the Montana historical society for administrative purposes only, as provided in 2-15-121.

(2)        The commission consists of the following 11 members:

(a)        the Montana historical society director or the director's designee;

(b)        two members of the legislature, one from the minority party and one from the majority party appointed as follows:

(i)         first, a member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and

(ii)         second, a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(c)        a high school social studies teacher who teaches a course in United States government appointed by the superintendent of public instruction;

(d)        a college-level United States history or political science professor appointed by the commissioner of higher education;

(e)        a tribal representative appointed by the state director of Indian affairs; and

(f)         five members appointed by the governor representing various civic, veteran, military, tourism, history, museum, library, arts, or local and tribal government organizations.

(3)        The commission shall:

(a)        work with partners, including but not limited to educational institutions, historical preservation entities, civic engagement organizations, tourism, arts, and heritage entities, veteran and military organizations, and local, state, national, and tribal partners;

(b)        collaborate with the board of public education, office of public instruction, local schools, and commission partners to:

(i)         increase participation in the United States civics test as referenced in 20-7-119;

(ii)         increase youth proficiency in United States and Montana government and history and in the distinct and unique heritage of American Indians pursuant to Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution and Title 20, chapter 1, part 5; and

(iii)        recognize schools for outstanding achievement in subsections (3)(b)(i) and (3)(b)(ii);

(c)        plan, coordinate, and implement an overall program to build public awareness of and foster public participation in celebrating and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the independence and founding of the United States;

(d)        draw attention to the achievements, honors, innovations, and significance of the people in this state and recommend ways for this state to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence and founding of the United States;

(e)        recognize the vibrant indigenous cultures living in this place in 1776;

(f)         emphasize the service and sacrifices of veterans who have secured and preserved American independence and freedom; and

(g)        celebrate and commemorate events and activities throughout this state.

(4)        The commission may and is expected to seek gifts, donations, grants, and other sources of funding to support its activities.

(5)        Commission members may not receive compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as provided for in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503.

(6)        The education interim committee established in 5-5-224 shall include monitoring of the commission and the commission's efforts in its duties for the 2023 and 2024 interim and may request updates and reports from the commission.

Section 2. Appropriation. There is appropriated $177,557 from the state general fund to the Montana historical society for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the purpose of [section 1]. The appropriation is authorized to continue into the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Section 3. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.

Section 4. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 22, chapter 3, part 1, and the provisions of Title 22, chapter 3, part 1, apply to [section 1].

Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

Section 6. Termination. [This act] terminates December 31, 2026.