House Bill No. introduced by J. Fitzpatrick proposes the establishment of a new Department of Health Services, which will take over the administration of state-owned health care facilities from the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The bill outlines the transfer of various human services functions, including developmental disabilities services, mental health services, chemical dependency services, and veterans' long-term care services to the newly created department. It includes provisions for the appointment of a director of health services by the governor and mandates that contracts for human services include a dispute resolution clause. The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect this transition, notably replacing references to the "department of public health and human services" with the "department of health services" throughout various sections.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of health services administration and improving care coordination for vulnerable populations. It specifies the composition and operational guidelines of various councils and committees, particularly those related to veterans' affairs and developmental disabilities, and increases the number of members on the committee on telecommunications access services for persons with disabilities. The bill also clarifies reporting requirements to the legislature, ensuring that the new department is responsible for specific reports previously assigned to the former department. Furthermore, it allocates funding to support the department's functions and mandates collaboration between the two departments to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline health services in Montana while ensuring transparency and accountability in government operations.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(1): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(2): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(3): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(4): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(5): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1(6): 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221
HB0851_1: 2-12-103, 2-15-104, 2-15-112, 2-15-211, 2-15-225, 2-15-232, 2-15-1205, 2-15-1869, 2-15-2212, 2-18-1202, 3-5-901, 5-5-225, 5-11-222, 5-12-303, 5-12-501, 7-22-2151, 10-2-401, 10-2-402, 10-2-403, 10-2-404, 10-2-416, 10-2-417, 10-2-901, 16-1-404, 16-1-406, 16-1-411, 16-11-119, 16-12-122, 17-2-108, 17-3-1001, 17-3-1002, 17-7-111, 18-4-133, 33-22-702, 44-5-302, 45-5-513, 45-8-356, 46-1-1103, 46-14-202, 46-14-221, 46-14-222, 46-14-301, 46-14-302, 46-14-303, 46-14-304, 46-14-311, 46-14-312, 46-19-202, 46-23-201, 46-23-208, 50-3-102, 50-21-103, 53-1-211, 53-1-216, 53-1-401, 53-1-601, 53-1-602, 53-1-603, 53-1-604, 53-1-610, 53-1-611, 53-1-612, 53-6-603, 53-18-101, 53-19-102, 53-20-102, 53-20-104, 53-20-125, 53-20-133, 53-20-146, 53-20-161, 53-20-163, 53-20-173, 53-20-174, 53-20-202, 53-20-213, 53-20-224, 53-20-225, 53-20-302, 53-20-303, 53-20-304, 53-20-306, 53-20-307, 53-20-504, 53-20-505, 53-20-601, 53-21-102, 53-21-104, 53-21-106, 53-21-147, 53-21-148, 53-21-194, 53-21-401, 53-21-403, 53-21-406, 53-21-407, 53-21-411, 53-21-413, 53-21-414, 53-21-601, 53-21-701, 53-21-702, 53-21-1202, 53-22-102, 53-22-104, 53-24-103, 53-24-106, 53-24-108, 53-24-302, 53-24-310, 53-24-311, 53-24-313, 53-25-103, 53-25-105, 76-2-411, 87-2-802, 90-7-220, 90-7-221