Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

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68th Legislature 2023                                                                                             HB 377.1
                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 377
            INTRODUCED BY L. REKSTEN, S. VINTON, T. MOORE, M. BERTOGLIO, C. SPRUNGER
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  A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MONTANA 250TH COMMISSION TO
  COORDINATE STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO CELEBRATE THE UNITED STATES SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL;
  ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION;
  AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE.”
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  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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          NEW SECTION. Section 1.           Montana 250th commission. (1) There is a Montana 250th commission
  formed to promote civic engagement and increase public awareness of United States and Montana government
  and history, including the history of tribal nations, leading up to the United States semiquincentennial. The
  commission is allocated to the Montana historical society for administrative purposes only, as provided in 2-15-
  121.
          (2)        The commission consists of the following 11 members:
          (a)        the Montana historical society director or the director's designee;
          (b)        two members of the legislature, one from the minority party and one from the majority party
  appointed as follows:
          (i)        first, a member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and
          (ii)       second, a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of
  representatives;
          (c)        a high school social studies teacher who teaches a course in United States government
  appointed by the superintendent of public instruction;
          (d)        a college-level United States history or political science professor appointed by the
  commissioner of higher education;
          (e)        a tribal representative appointed by the state director of Indian affairs; and
          (f)        five members appointed by the governor representing various civic, veteran, military, tourism,
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68th Legislature 2023                                                                                              HB 377.1
  history, museum, library, arts, or local and tribal government organizations.
          (3)      The commission shall:
          (a)      work with partners, including but not limited to educational institutions, historical preservation
  entities, civic engagement organizations, tourism, arts, and heritage entities, veteran and military organizations,
  and local, state, national, and tribal partners;
          (b)      collaborate with the board of public education, office of public instruction, local schools, and
  commission partners to:
          (i)      increase participation in the United States civics test as referenced in 20-7-119;
          (ii)     increase youth proficiency in United States and Montana government and history and in the
  distinct and unique heritage of American Indians pursuant to Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution
  and Title 20, chapter 1, part 5; and
          (iii)    recognize schools for outstanding achievement in subsections (3)(b)(i) and (3)(b)(ii);
          (c)      plan, coordinate, and implement an overall program to build public awareness of and foster
  public participation in celebrating and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the independence and founding
  of the United States;
          (d)      draw attention to the achievements, honors, innovations, and significance of the people in this
  state and recommend ways for this state to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence and
  founding of the United States;
          (e)      recognize the vibrant indigenous cultures living in this place in 1776;
          (f)      emphasize the service and sacrifices of veterans who have secured and preserved American
  independence and freedom; and
          (g)      celebrate and commemorate events and activities throughout this state.
          (4)      The commission may and is expected to seek gifts, donations, grants, and other sources of
  funding to support its activities.
          (5)      Commission members may not receive compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for
  travel expenses as provided for in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503.
          (6)      The education interim committee established in 5-5-224 shall include monitoring of the
  commission and the commission's efforts in its duties for the 2023 and 2024 interim and may request updates
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68th Legislature 2023                                                                                                HB 377.1
  and reports from the commission.
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          NEW SECTION. Section 2.          Appropriation. There is appropriated $177,557 from the state general
  fund to the Montana historical society for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the purpose of [section 1].
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          NEW SECTION. Section 3.          Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a
  copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
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          NEW SECTION. Section 4.          Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
  integral part of Title 22, chapter 3, part 1, and the provisions of Title 22, chapter 3, part 1, apply to [section 1].
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          NEW SECTION. Section 5.          Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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          NEW SECTION. Section 6.          Termination. [This act] terminates December 31, 2026.
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