Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

68th Legislature                                                                                                    SB 160.1
                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 160
                           INTRODUCED BY B. MOLNAR, K. REGIER, J. SMALL, L. DEMING
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   A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO DRUG OR HUMAN
   TRAFFICKING; PROVIDING A REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CONVICTION OF DRUG
   OR HUMAN TRAFFICKERS; REQUIRING A SIGN PROCLAIMING A REWARD AT ALL PORTS OF ENTRY,
   AIRPORTS, RAILWAY STATIONS, AND BUS STATIONS; EXEMPTING THE REWARD FROM TAXATION;
   AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
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              WHEREAS, Montana's law enforcement of all types is spread thin over 147,000 square miles; and
              WHEREAS, like all states and territories, Montana is experiencing a "Meth Epidemic"; and
              WHEREAS, all illegal drugs are a scourge on Montana; and
              WHEREAS, Montana recently settled several lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies involving
   opiate deaths, injuries, and damages; and
              WHEREAS, Montana received significant sums of money as part of the settlement of these lawsuits;
   and
              WHEREAS, these funds should be spent on combatting the problems caused by illegal drugs, drug
   smuggling, and human trafficking in Montana; and
              WHEREAS, human trafficking destroys all that come into contact with it; and
              WHEREAS, drug smugglers and human traffickers rely on a culture of trust between coperpetrators;
   and
              WHEREAS, the easiest way to make drug smugglers and human traffickers stop doing business in
   Montana is to destroy their culture of trust.
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   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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              NEW SECTION. Section 1.      Trafficking of illegal drugs -- human trafficking -- reward -- creation
   of sign. (1) (a) A person, not including peace officers, prosecutors, or judicial officers, who furnishes
                                                                -1-                      Authorized Print Version – SB 160
68th Legislature                                                                                                        SB 160.1
   information to a law enforcement officer leading to a conviction for any of the following must be paid a reward of
   $50,000:
              (i)     an offense under Title 45, chapter 9, part 1;
              (ii)    a felony related to the illegal trafficking or distribution of a Schedule I drug under 50-32-222,
   except marijuana, or a Schedule II drug under 50-32-224 with a street value of at least $10,000 as determined
   by the prosecutor; or
              (iii)   a felony related to human trafficking as defined in 45-5-701.
              (b)     The department of justice shall develop a secure system for receiving and verifying tips to law
   enforcement.
              (2)     The department of transportation shall create a sign proclaiming the $50,000 reward as
   provided in subsection (1):
              (a)     that is the same standard size as the "Welcome to Montana" signs posted at all ports of entry
   into the state; and
              (b)     in a size-appropriate manner, with permission, in airports as defined in 67-1-101, railway
   stations or terminals, and bus stations or terminals.
              (3)     The reward is exempt from garnishment, restitution, attorney fees, and state taxation.
              (4)     The identity of an informant is not required if:
              (a)     disclosure would result in substantial risk to the informant or the informant's family; or
              (b)     maintaining informant confidentiality prevents a successful prosecution and the informant may
   not receive an award.
              (5)     If more than one family member or partner as defined in 45-5-206(2) gives information leading
   to a conviction, only one reward may be given.
              (6)     Except as provided in subsection (5), if more than one person gives information leading to a
   conviction and the total reward for one conviction exceeds $100,000, the prosecutor shall decide how to divide
   the reward on an equitable basis.
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              NEW SECTION. Section 2.        Reward proceeds for information leading to conviction for drug or
   human trafficking. All payments made under [section 1] are exempt from state taxation under this chapter.
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68th Legislature                                                                                                    SB 160.1
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              NEW SECTION. Section 3.       Codification instruction. (1) [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
   integral part of Title 44, chapter 4, and the provisions of Title 44, chapter 4, apply to [section 1].
              (2)   [Section 2] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 15, chapter 30, part 21, and the
   provisions of Title 15, chapter 30, part 21, apply to [section 2].
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              NEW SECTION. Section 4.       Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.
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                                                                 -3-                       Authorized Print Version – SB 160