_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; RENAMING THE CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER TO CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER; REVISING THE DUTIES OF THE CHIEF economic DEVELOPMENT OFFICER; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-218, 2-15-219, AND 2-18-103, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 2-15-218, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-218. Office of economic development -- structure. (1) There is an office of economic development within the office of the governor.

(2) The head of the office is the chief business economic development officer, who must be appointed by the governor.

(3) The office of economic development is composed of the following policy and program specialties:

(a) business retention and recruitment;

(b) workforce development;

(d) infrastructure improvement; and

(e) permitting and regulatory processes.

(4) The office may employ or contract with policy specialists to implement the programs listed in subsection (3) and the functions referred to in 2-15-219.

(5) The office may accept grants, loans, and other gifts from sources other than the state for the purpose of administering the provisions of 2-15-219, 90-1-112 through 90-1-114, and this section."

Section 2. Section 2-15-219, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-219. Chief business economic development officer -- duties. The chief business economic development officer shall:

(1) advise the governor on policy issues related to economic development;

(2) lead coordinate the state's business recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts;

(3) coordinate the development and distribution of a statewide coordinated strategic economic development plan;

(4) coordinate the individual functions and programs within the office as provided in 2-15-218; and

(5) serve as the state's primary liaison between federal, state, and local agencies, Montana tribal governments, private, nonprofit economic development organizations, and the private sector."

Section 3. Section 2-18-103, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-18-103. Officers and employees excepted. Parts 1 through 3 and 10 do not apply to the following officers and employees in state government:

(1) elected officials;

(2) county assessors and their chief deputies;

(3) employees of the office of consumer counsel;

(4) judges and employees of the judicial branch;

(5) members of boards and commissions appointed by the governor, the legislature, or other elected state officials;

(6) officers or members of the militia;

(7) agency heads appointed by the governor;

(8) academic and professional administrative personnel with individual contracts under the authority of the board of regents of higher education;

(9) academic and professional administrative personnel and live-in houseparents who have entered into individual contracts with the state school for the deaf and blind under the authority of the state board of public education;

(10) investment officer, assistant investment officer, executive director, and eight professional staff positions of the board of investments;

(11) four professional staff positions under the board of oil and gas conservation;

(12) director of the Montana state lottery and assistant director for security of the Montana state lottery;

(13) executive director and employees of the state compensation insurance fund;

(14) state racing stewards employed by the executive secretary of the Montana board of horseracing;

(15) executive director of the Montana wheat and barley committee;

(16) commissioner of banking and financial institutions;

(17) training coordinator for county attorneys;

(18) employees of an entity of the legislative branch consolidated, as provided in 5-2-504;

(19) chief information officer in the department of administration;

(20) chief business economic development officer and six professional staff positions in the office of economic development provided for in 2-15-218; and

(21) the director of the office of state public defender provided for in 2-15-1029."

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.