This bill establishes a framework for distributing revenue generated from the lodging and facilities use tax to support grants for lodging establishments that offer short-term accommodations to victims of domestic violence or human trafficking. It creates an emergency lodging program administered by the Department of Justice specifically aimed at assisting these victims. Additionally, the bill stipulates that grants provided under this program will not be subject to state accommodation taxes, thereby ensuring that more resources are available for the intended purpose.

The legislation also includes provisions for the creation of a state special revenue account to manage the funds allocated for this initiative. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 17-7-502, and 90-1-135, to incorporate these new measures. The bill outlines definitions relevant to the program, grants rulemaking authority, and specifies a statutory appropriation to facilitate its implementation. It also sets forth an effective date, an applicability date, and a termination date for the program.

Statutes affected:
SB0522_1.pdf: 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 90-1-135
SB0522_2.pdf: 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 90-1-135
SB0522_3.pdf: 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 90-1-135
Amended: 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 90-1-135
Introduced: 15-65-121, 15-68-101, 90-1-135