Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

April 5, 2009

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK THIRTEEN

(March 29, 2009 – April 4, 2009)

During Week Thirteen of the 2009 Legislative Session, I followed this proposed legislation:

HB 6: "AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; PRIORITIZING GRANTS AND AMOUNTS; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS FOR GRANTS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATES DATE." At this time, the funding for this legislation has been increased to include funding for the Richland County Conservation District’s Renewable Resource Development Grant Application entitled, LOWER YELLOWSTONE GROUNDWATER RESERV ATION in the amount of $100,000.00. I am continuing to support this legislation.

HB 9: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC PROJECTS GRANT AWARDS; APPROPRIATING MONEY FOR CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC GRANTS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." At this time, this legislation includes funding in the amount of $15,300.00 for the MonDak Historical and Art Society. I am continuing to support this legislation.

HB 52: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GROUND WATER INVESTIGATION PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR PRIORITIZATION OF SUBBASINS BY THE GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE; ADDING A MEMBER OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO THE GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTION 2-15-1523, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." This legislation would provide $900,000.00 to the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to develop and implement a ground water investigation program for the purpose of collecting and compiling ground water and aquifer data. Since Richland County is fortunate to have two major river basins, and the associated groundwater resource in and adjoining the County, I provided testimony in support of this legislation. As originally proposed, the funding for this legislation was $4.2 million. However, as a result of the continued reduction in the budget estimates for the next biennium, this legislation was amended to reduce the appropriation to $900,000.00.

HB 645: "AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009; PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE RECEIPT OF FEDERAL FUNDS; REVISING STATUTES TO IMPLEMENT THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF RETROACTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES; REVISING THE ALLOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL BED TAX; REVISING INDIRECT COST RECOVERY LAWS; REVISING THE DEFINITIONS OF BASE BUDGET AND PRESENT LAW BASE FOR THE NEXT STATE BUDGET CYCLE; REVISING THE BASE PERIOD FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS; PROVIDING FOR A PART-TIME WORK SEARCH AND PARTICIPATION IN WORKER TRAINING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT PURPOSES; REVISING THE USE OF THE HEALTHY KIDS STATE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT; REVISING THE USE OF THE HEALTH AND MEDICAID INITIATIVES ACCOUNT; CLARIFYING WATER POLLUTION LAWS AND THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR WATER PROJECTS; REVISING THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING THE DISTRESSED WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY RECOVERY PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR A QUICK START ENERGY PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR QUICK START ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES;

16 REVISING THE PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING UNDER THE BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; EXTENDING THE HOSPITAL BED TAX; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-4-306, 15-66-102, 17-1-106, 17-2-124, 17-7-102, 17-7-402, 17-7-502, 20-25-427, 39-51-201, 52-3-115, 53-4-1115, 53-6-149, 53-6-1201, 75-5-1102, 75-5-1107, 75-6-202, 75-6-226, 75-25-101, AND 75-25-102, AND 90-1-204, MCA, SECTION 20, CHAPTER 390, LAWS OF 2003, SECTIONS 4 AND 7, CHAPTER 606, LAWS OF 2005, SECTIONS 4, 5, 6, AND 8, CHAPTER 517, LAWS OF 2007, AND SECTION 9-B, CHAPTER 5, SPECIAL LAWS OF MAY 2007; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE, A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE, AND A TERMINATION DATE." This legislation is the Federal Economic Stimulus Package of 2009. I am continuing to monitor this legislation.