House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise education laws in Montana, particularly focusing on recruitment and retention efforts, as well as provisions related to the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. Key changes include making educational sign language interpreters eligible for the Quality Educator Payment and the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program. The bill also expands the types of educational entities that can receive incentives for meeting starting teacher pay benchmarks and participate in the Teacher Residency Program. Additionally, it allows the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to transport resident students between home and school using a school bus.

The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including 20-4-502, 20-4-503, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, and 20-9-327. Notable insertions include definitions and provisions that recognize educational sign language interpreters as quality educators, thus enabling them to access financial incentives. The bill also specifies that the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind can use school buses for student transportation, enhancing accessibility for its residents. The effective date for most provisions is set for July 1, 2025, with certain sections applying to educational sign language interpreters starting from the school fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1(1): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1(2): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1(3): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1(4): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1(5): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_1: 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(1): 20-4-502, 20-4-503, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(10): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(11): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(12): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(13): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(14): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(15): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(16): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(2): 20-4-502, 20-4-503, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(3): 20-4-502, 20-4-503, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(4): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(5): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(6): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(7): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(8): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2(9): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_2: 20-4-502, 20-4-503, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(1): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(2): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(3): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(4): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(5): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3(6): 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327
HB0151_3: 20-4-502, 20-4-702, 20-8-121, 20-9-324, 20-9-327