_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DECENNIAL VETERANS' LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS STUDY; DEFINING THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY; ASSIGNING STAFFING RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; establishing reporting requirements; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Decennial veterans' long-term care needs study. (1) On receipt of the most recent federal census, the department of public health and human services, in consultation with the Montana veterans' affairs division, shall perform an analysis of the long-term care needs of veterans in the state, known as the decennial veterans' long-term care needs study.

(2)        The study must determine the demographics of the Montana veteran population, including the number and age of veterans in each county and the type of long-term care needs of the population. The long-term care assessment for veterans must include evaluation of the need for nursing home, domiciliary, and Alzheimer's disease support services, as well as the various types of community and in-home care that are needed.

(3)        The study must include a personal survey of the Montana veteran population, including online and paper options. This study must be conducted in collaboration with veterans' outreach organizations and other local groups that work directly with the Montana veteran population.

(4)        The study must evaluate existing veterans' home services and the configuration of those services with respect to the needs identified.

(5)        The study must include an analysis of the need for additional state veterans' cemeteries, including their placement within the state.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Department of public health and human services to conduct study. The staff of the senior and long-term care division within the department of public health and human services shall conduct the study. The staff of the Montana veterans' affairs division shall provide support as needed.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Survey report required. As soon as possible after the completion of the decennial survey, the department of public health and human services and the Montana veterans' affairs division shall present a detailed report to the state administrative and veterans' affairs interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Appropriation. There is appropriated $40,000 from the general fund to the department of public health and human services for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the purpose of conducting the veterans' long-term care needs study. Any funds not used for the survey at the end of the biennium revert to the general fund.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 3] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 10, chapter 2, part 9, and the provisions of Title 10, chapter 2, part 9, apply to [sections 1 through 3].

NEW SECTION. Section 6. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.