Senate joint resolution NO. 24

INTRODUCED BY B. Usher

By Request of the ****

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of the various professional student exchange programs funded in part through state appropriations and administered by the Montana university system.

WHEREAS, the Montana University System administers several professional student exchange programs in health care fields of study, including medicine, osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, and podiatry; and

WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature provides taxpayer funds to support these programs; and

WHEREAS, few legislators understand how the programs work and the costs and benefits of the programs to the state.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to:

(1)        compile basic information about the professional student exchange programs available to Montana students, including comparisons of programs serving similar fields of study, for example, a comparison of the health care programs under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and WWAMI and of the veterinary medicine programs under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and WIMU;

(2)        review the application and selection processes for the programs;

(3)        examine the costs and benefits of the various programs, including contributions the programs have made to the availability of health care and veterinary medicine throughout the state; and

(4)        investigate how the programs might be improved to increase the return on investment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education be requested to provide support for the study.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2024.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 69th Legislature.