Appropriations bill, drivers license, bonding discussed at legislative videoconference

Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, said Friday at the weekly legislative videoconference that the House of Representatives will hear this week the state general appropriations act, House Bill 2 introduced by Rep. Nancy Ballance.

He said the bill also will include some infrastructure projects.

He added that House Bill 652, introduced by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, passed through the House and will now be heard in the Senate. Bachmeier said the bill would secure $80 million in bonding, of which $25 million will be secured for Montana State University's Romney Hall; $5 million for MSU's dental and hygiene lab in Great Falls, and $5 million for the Silver Bow County National Guard Armory. Other programs including the Treasure State Endowment Program are also included in the bill, he said.

Bachmeier said that House Bill 217, a bill introduced by Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, to remove suspension of driver's license as punishment for not paying court-ordered fines, fees or restitution was transmitted to the Senate after it was debated in the House.

Rep. Joshua Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, said that he supports the bill and that suspending a person's driver's license is detrimental to those with minor offenses.

"In Montana, everybody's got to drive to work. There is not a lot of public transportation and having a driver's license is really important," he said.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said that Hill County Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger notified the commissioners that she is opposed to the bill. McLean said that the bill leaves "no teeth" for enforcing punishment for offenders who are passing through the area and could result in the county losing money in fines. Suspending the offenders' licenses gave offenders incentive to pay the fines, she said, and without that incentive some people might not pay the fines.

"I really agree in theory with the thought process that goes into that bill," McLean said. "But in the practicality of it, it's probably going to cost your local law enforcement your local judicial systems more."

McLean also asked about House Bill 618, introduced by Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, to establish a fee for statewide safety communications systems.

Kassmier said he heard the bill Thursday in the Tax Committee. The bill would set a 95 cent monthly fee on all cellphone lines for the statewide public safety communications system, he said.

He said he understands the need. Montana has many of areas in which no cell is service available, although he is unsure that the bill is the complete solution.

"I don't know if it is the right bill, but it's definitely worth talking about," he said.

Kassmier added that the bill has many different proponents and opponents, and the hearing took about two hours. He added that Mercer is willing to lower the fee to 85 cents due to the fiscal note coming out higher than expected.

Kassmier said a few of his own bills have moved on to be voted on in the Senate, such as his bison bill, truck speed limit bill and bill to exempt community service act contracts from the procurement act.

He added that his House Bill 404, which will revise the itemized deduction for medical expenses, has passed out of committee and will be heard on the House floor.

"It helps the middle class," he said.

Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, said the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee reviewed House Joint Resolution 13, introduced by Rep. David Dunn, R-Kalispell. The resolution is to urge Congress to amend the federal telecommunications act to account for health effects of setting small cell network equipment in residential areas.

Tempel said that during the committee meeting they spoke about radiation emitted from cell network equipment.

"All I can say is, it got wild before it was over, it was kind of interesting," Tempel said.

Tempel added that the Tax Committee met Friday to discuss the medical marijuana law previously passed. He said the bill has a few gaping holes.

He said they are trying to tighten up a few things so that a few of the "bad actors" will be held accountable.

"I think there are a couple things we can do to kind of straighten out the issues," he said.

A bill Tempel said he saw in the Education Committee was House Bill 117, introduced by Rep. Fred Anderson, R-Great Falls, which allows school districts to use equalization aid for preschool programs.

Tempel said the bill will allow public school systems to set up preschools if they have the facility to do so, although no state funding will be allocated. He said he likes the bill and co-signed it.

"It sort of makes sense," he said.

Bachmeier said House Bill 607, his bill which would revise laws regarding manufacturing and selling pet treats which was inspired by Keeley Wilson, owner of Lady Bug Bites, will be heard Thursday by the Agricultural Committee.

He added that he is working with Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte, to pass the bill Bachmeier sponsored to establish a farm-to-school grant for Montana public school systems. House Bill 667 would allow schools to purchase local farm and ranch products for the schools' nutrition programs, Bachmeier said. The bill has a $100,000 appropriation and, although he is not sure if it will pass, he said, it will start an interesting conversation for the public school districts.