_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT providing for a 10-year study on the impacts of marijuana use during pregnancy; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and A TERMINATION DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Study on impacts of marijuana use during pregnancy. (1) The department of public health and human services shall administer a 10-year study on the impacts of marijuana use during pregnancy. The department may contract with a third party to conduct the study.

(2)        The study must:

(a)        be conducted on a population size large enough to produce statistically significant results;

(b)        protect the confidentiality of adult and child participants;

(c)        examine the physical, intellectual, and social development of children who were exposed to marijuana in utero, including the children's:

(i)         brain development;

(ii)         ability to regulate emotions;

(iii)        physical and developmental disabilities;

(iv)        health complications;

(v)        social skills at home, school, and in the community; and

(vi)        educational outcomes.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $500,000 from the healing and ending addiction through recovery and treatment (HEART) account established in 16-12-122 to the department of public health and human services for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, to administer the study provided for in [section 1].

(2)        The legislature intends that the appropriation be considered as part of the ongoing base budget through the termination of [section 1] as provided in [section 5].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 50, chapter 19, and the provisions of Title 50, chapter 19, 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 June 30, 2034.