LGIC Votes to Bring 10 Bill Drafts Forward
Committee: Local Government Interim Committee
Author:Sonja Nowakowski
Posted on July 26, 2018
The Local Government Interim Committee (LGIC) wrapped up its interim July 11-12, voting to bring 10 bill drafts before the 2019 Legislature for consideration.
The 2017‐2018 interim was the first for the Local Government Interim Committee. Senate Bill No. 151, enacted by the 2017 Legislature, created a standalone local government interim committee, which previously was combined with the Education Interim Committee. The LGIC budget allowed for an abbreviated interim with four meeting dates. The Legislative Services Division budget for the next biennium will propose full funding for the committee.
Approved actions during the LGIC’s July meeting include:
- Completion of the House Joint Resolution No. 25 study of municipal fire departments with approval of the following committee bills:
- LCMFD3: A bill to allow certain municipalities to annex onto a rural fire district with changes to reflect an affirmative vote for a simple majority of those voting on the question in the proposal.
- LCMFD4: A bill authorizing creation of regional fire protection service authorities with technical changes to be recommended by the Montana League of Cities and Towns, Montana Association of Counties, and stakeholders for consistency in dissolution and approval processes.
- LCLGR1: A bill allowing government accounting standards to include a financial reporting framework as defined by the Department of Administration.
- A final report concluding its work on Senate Joint Resolution No. 21 “Preserving and Improving the Future of Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services in Montana”. Findings and recommendations in the report include the following legislative proposals:
- LCVFF1: A bill requiring workers’ compensation coverage for all volunteer firefighters starting in 2021.
- LCVFF2: A bill allowing emergency care providers to offer community-integrated health care.
- LCVFF3: A bill with a 5% fireworks tax to potentially generate $250,000 per year designated for assisting local fire agencies with workers’ compensation for volunteer fire fighters and the remainder of the revenue for emergency medical and trauma services grants. The bill is effective October 2019 and terminates September 2023.
- LCSAA1: A bill to generally revise laws related to budgeting and accounting by local government entities with modifications concerning the scope of the proposal.
- LChtc1: A bill providing for workforce housing tax credits.
- LChlcs: A bill creating an affordable housing loan program using money from the permanent coal severance tax trust fund.
- LCahgr: A bill allowing Big Sky Economic Development program funds and Treasure State Endowment program funds to be used for affordable housing infrastructure.
The draft legislation is posted to the Local Government Interim Committee’s website. For more information, contact Sonja Nowakowski, committee staff.
Committee Website: www.leg.mt.gov/lgic
Committee Staff: snowakowski@mt.gov or 406-444-3078
