The bill seeks to revise the telecommunications access service laws for individuals with disabilities in Montana by dissolving the Governor's Committee on Telecommunications Access Services and transferring its oversight responsibilities to the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The DPHHS will be empowered to administer a program that provides specialized telecommunications equipment and services, with key amendments including the establishment of the DPHHS as the governing body, a requirement for public input in policy development, and the introduction of a means test for eligibility based on family income. The bill also outlines the DPHHS's responsibilities in managing the program's budget and ensuring the provision of a telecommunications relay service system.

Additionally, the legislation amends existing laws regarding the filing of fraudulent returns by service providers, clarifying that the discovery period for fraud does not begin until the fraud is actually discovered. It also specifies that provisions of Title 15, which pertain to tax administration, apply to service providers as if the fees they collect were taxes based on net income, thereby classifying them as taxpayers. The bill repeals several sections of the Montana Code Annotated related to the now-defunct Committee on Telecommunications Access Services and includes a provision for the bill to take effect upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53-19-302, 53-19-305, 53-19-306, 53-19-307, 53-19-308, 53-19-309, 53-19-310, 53-19-311, 53-19-315, 53-19-316, 53-19-317, 53-19-318, 53-19-319