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68th Legislature 2023 HB 952.1
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 952
2 INTRODUCED BY C. SPRUNGER, L. BREWSTER
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MONTANA AUTISM FACILITIES GRANT
5 PROGRAM; CREATING AN AUTISM FACILITIES SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT; PROVIDING
6 RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; TRANSFERRING FUNDS; PROVIDING AN
7 APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
8
9 WHEREAS, during the past decade, the prevalence of autism in the United States has increased; and
10 WHEREAS, approximately half a million children with autism will legally become adults within the next
11 decade; and
12 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature that adults with autism living in Montana have access to
13 supportive services and housing options to meet their needs.
14
15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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17 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Autism facilities grant -- purpose -- eligibility -- rulemaking. (1) There
18 is an autism facilities grant program administered by the department of public health and human services for
19 the purpose of providing grants for the construction of autism facilities designed and equipped to provide
20 services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
21 (2) To be eligible for a grant from the department, a nonprofit or government entity shall:
22 (a) match each $1 of the grant with $1 raised from public or private sources; and
23 (b) provide the department with plans for the construction and development of autism facilities in
24 the state.
25 (3) The department shall adopt rules for administration of the grant program.
26 (4) For the purposes of this section, "autism facility" is a facility in the state that provides services
27 to children or adults, or both, with autism spectrum disorder, including but not limited to housing, therapy, and
28 other support services.
-1- Authorized Print Version – HB 952
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68th Legislature 2023 HB 952.1
1
2 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Autism facilities special revenue account. (1) There is an autism
3 facilities account in the state special revenue fund established in 17-2-102 to the credit of the department of
4 public health and human services.
5 (2) The purpose of the account is to provide funding for autism facilities grants awarded in
6 accordance with [section 1].
7 (3) The account consists of
8 (a) money appropriated to or transferred into the account by the legislature;
9 (b) any funds available through and identified by the department for the autism facilities grant
10 program; and
11 (c) gifts, grants, or donations made for the purposes of [section 1].
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13 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Transfer of funds. No later than August 1, 2023, the state treasurer
14 shall transfer $200,000 from the general fund to the autism facilities special revenue account provided for in
15 [section 2].
16
17 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Appropriation. There is appropriated $200,000 from the autism facilities
18 special revenue account provided for in [section 2] to the department of public health and human services for
19 the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, to provide grants for autism facilities as allowed under [section 1].
20
21 NEW SECTION. Section 5. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a
22 copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
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24 NEW SECTION. Section 6. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified
25 as an integral part of Title 53, chapter 20, and the provisions of Title 53, chapter 20, apply to [sections 1 and 2].
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27 NEW SECTION. Section 7. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.
28 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – HB 952