Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

February 26, 2009

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK SEVEN

(February 15, 2009 – February 21, 2009)

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

SB369: "AN ACT REVISING LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOXIOUS WEED LAWS; REVISING THE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGARD TO NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL MEASURES; ELIMINATING THE PROVISION FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING FOR A PERSON WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A WEED DISTRICT BOARD DECISION; AMENDING SECTIONS 7-22-2123 AND 7-22-2124, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 7-22-2110, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this legislation.

SB 390: "AN ACT AUTHORIZING CITIES AND TOWNS TO ENTER INTO LOAN AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF MONTANA TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN STREET MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS AND USE THE DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS TO SERVICE THE LOAN; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-12-4429, MCA." I monitored this legislation.

SB 392: "AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO REVIEW PARCELS OF LAND SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE OWNER OF THE PARCEL TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PARCEL MAY BE DEVELOPED WITH WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF SUBDIVISION APPROVAL FOR THE PARCEL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this legislation.

HB 563: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR A DISTRICT COURT TO RECOGNIZE A ROUTE OF A COUNTY ROAD AS THE LEGAL ROUTE IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS EXIST; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 7-14-2101 AND 60-1-201, MCA." I monitored this legislation.

HB 582: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM RELATED TO JOBS INVOLVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENERGY CONSERVATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, RECYCLING, OR RECLAMATION; PROVIDING CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBLE TRAINING PROGRAMS, TRAINEE PARTICIPANTS, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS; ADDING TO THE DUTIES OF THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; DESCRIBING GRANT REQUIREMENTS; AMENDING SECTIONS 53-2-111, 53-2-1203, AND 53-2-1207, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE." This legislation would provide job opportunities in the above-described industries for individuals and small businesses. I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

HB 385: "AN ACT PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PROGRAMMING THAT COMBINES STATE-APPROVED MEDIA ARTS EDUCATION WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, FOSTERS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ATTRACTS EMPLOYERS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this legislation.

SB 386: "AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMITS A VEHICLE USED TO PROCESS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ON A FARMER'S LAND; AND AMENDING SECTION 61-10-107, MCA." I monitored this legislation.

SB 407: "AN ACT IDENTIFYING CERTAIN FEDERAL IRRIGATION DISTRICTCONTRACTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PETITION AND JUDICIAL REVIEW; REQUIRING JUDICIAL REVIEW OF CONTRACT PROCEEDINGS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 85-7-1956 AND 85-7-1957, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN APPLICABILITY DATE." I monitored this legislation.

SB 388: "AN ACT CREATING AN INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM; PROVIDING CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION AND FOR AWARDS; AND PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY." This legislation would provide for an incumbent worker training program to meet the training needs of incumbent workers in businesses employing 20 or fewer workers in Montana or at any one location but not more than 50 workers statewide; and, assist local businesses in preserving existing jobs for Montana residents. An incumbent worker is defined as an employee who has completed a probationary period as defined they the employer’s policy or as described in 39-2-904, whichever is shorter. I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

HB 440: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FISCAL NOTES THAT INCLUDE SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENTS." This legislation should be good for small businesses in that any legislation that is proposed that would effect small businesses would have to include a small business impact statement as part of the fiscal note. I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

SB 438: "AN ACT REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "LIQUOR" TO INCLUDE CAFFEINATED OR STIMULANT-ENHANCED MALT BEVERAGES; DEFINING "CAFFEINATED OR STIMULANT-ENHANCED MALT BEVERAGE"; AND AMENDING SECTION 16-1-106, MCA." I monitored this legislation.

SB 315: "AN ACT REVISING THE TAXATION OF CLASS EIGHT BUSINESS EQUIPMENT AND RELATED LAWS; INCREASING THE BUSINESS EQUIPMENT TAX EXEMPTION TO THE FIRST $200,000 OR LESS OF MARKET VALUE OF PROPERTY; PROHIBITING CLASS EIGHT PROPERTY FROM BEING SEPARATED INTO DIFFERENT BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR DETERMINING WHETHER THE $200,000 EXEMPTION IS EXCEEDED; PROVIDING FOR THE ALLOCATION OF EXEMPT CLASS EIGHT PROPERTY BY LOCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE DETERMINATION OF REIMBURSABLE AMOUNTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICTS, AND THE 6-MILL UNIVERSITY LEVY; PROVIDING THAT THE INCREASE IN THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT OF CLASS EIGHT PROPERTY DOES NOT OCCUR IF CERTAIN LEGISLATION IS NOT ENACTED; REPEALING AN OBSOLETE BUSINESS EQUIPMENT REIMBURSEMENT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXING JURISDICTIONS; AMENDING SECTIONS 7-1-2111, 15-6-138, 15-6-219, 15-8-301, 15-10-420, 20-9-406, AND 20-9-407, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 15-1-112, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE." I monitored this legislation.

HB 583: "AN ACT SUPPORTING A NETWORK OF SIX ESTABLISHED MONTANA FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTERS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." These six Montana Food and Agricultural Development Centers are currently in-place. The purpose of these centers is to provide small businesses and individual with technical assistance, business development advice and marketing advice for value-added and alternative energy enterprises. I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

HB 572: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM AND CRITERIA TO PROVIDE STATE MATCHING GRANTS FOR FEDERAL SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS OR FEDERAL SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANTS; AMENDING SECTION 90-1-147, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A CONTINGENT TERMINATION DATE." I monitored this legislation.

SB 390: "AN ACT AUTHORIZING CITIES AND TOWNS TO ENTER INTO LOAN AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF MONTANA TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN STREE MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS AND USE THE DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS TO SERVICE THE LOAN; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-12-4429, MCA." I monitored this legislation.