_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws related to planning and service areas for services to older Montanans; establishing a task force to examine planning and service areas; Providing for task force membership and duties; requiring review and possible redesignation of planning and service areas by July 1, 2027; establishing reporting requirements; AMENDING SECTION 52-3-405, MCA; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and A TERMINATION DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Task force on planning and service areas. (1) There is a task force on planning and service areas to evaluate the current designated planning and service areas and make recommendations for revising the boundaries of the areas to better serve older Montanans.

(2)        The task force consists of 12 members appointed as follows:

(a)        two members of the Montana senate appointed by the committee on committees, one from the majority party and one from the minority party;

(b)        two members of the Montana house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, one from the majority party and one from the minority party; and

(c)        additional members appointed by the director of the department or the director's designee to represent:

(i)         two area agencies on aging, one with a service area that includes urban areas and one serving only rural communities;

(ii)        two senior centers, one urban and one rural;

(iii)       recipients of aging services;

(iv)       providers of aging services; and

(v)        a person with an interest in aging services who has the ability to analyze data for the task force.

(3)        The task force shall make recommendations to the department to assist with the redesignation of the planning and service areas scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2027, pursuant to 52-3-405.

(4)        A vacancy on the committee must be filled by the appointing authority in the same manner as the original appointment.

(5)        (a) The department director shall appoint the presiding officer of the task force.

(b)        The task force is attached to the department for administrative purposes only.

(6)        The task force shall meet at least quarterly in person and may hold additional meetings by electronic means.

(7)        The department shall reimburse nonlegislative members of the task force as provided in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503 for travel expenses incurred while engaged in task force activities. The department shall reimburse legislative members for compensation and expenses as provided in 5-2-302 for each day the members are engaged in task force activities.

Section 2. Section 52-3-405, MCA, is amended to read:

"52-3-405. Designation of planning Planning and service areas -- designation -- department review -- report. (1) On or before October 1, 1983 July 1, 2027, and every 4 years following, the department shall review and redesignate, if necessary, the planning and service areas it utilizes for services to the aged.

(2)        The department shall fix the number of planning and service areas at no less than 7 and no more than 12 10.

(3)        Planning and service areas shall follow either recognized county boundaries or Indian reservation boundaries, or both.

(4)        The department may designate a combination of Indian reservations as a planning and service area for any reservations that have applied to be designated under a consortium supported by their respective tribal governments.

(5)        No later than July 1, 2025, the department shall prepare a plan for reviewing the requirements for designated planning and service areas, taking into account recommendations from the task force on planning and service areas provided for in [section 1].

(6)        The review must analyze the population trends of older adults in Montana, focusing on individuals who:

(a)        are living in designated rural and frontier areas; or

(b)        are in greatest economic and social need, with particular attention to:

(i)         low-income and low-income minority individuals;

(ii)        individuals with limited English speaking ability;

(iii)       individuals with severe disabilities;

(iv)       individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias and their caregivers; and

(v)        tribal members.

(7)        The review must:

(a)        identify high-volume and low-volume service areas;

(b)        identify and resolve obstacles for service delivery;

(c)        project the estimated utilization of services;

(d)        evaluate the statewide funding formula; and

(e)        set planning and service areas that are based on sound data and analysis.

(8)        The department shall report twice a year to the children, families, health, and human services interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210 on the efforts undertaken to develop the plan and implement services."

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 52, chapter 3, part 4, and the provisions of Title 52, chapter 3, part 4, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Termination. [Section 1] terminates July 1, 2027.