The bill revises the powers of local boards of health concerning sanitation regulations, specifically removing their ability to adopt sanitation-related rules that are more stringent than state standards. It amends Section 50-2-116 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify that local boards can only propose regulations that align with state standards for the control and disposal of sewage. Additionally, it establishes that subsurface onsite wastewater treatment systems that are already installed and functioning will not be subject to any new local health board rules adopted after their installation, unless they fail or show signs of failure.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions regarding the installation and maintenance of subsurface onsite wastewater treatment systems. It mandates that local boards of health must provide written directives to landowners regarding the requirements for new systems and any updates to existing systems. The bill also prohibits local boards from imposing additional requirements on landowners without clear, documented evidence. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and includes retroactive applicability for the provisions concerning subsurface wastewater treatment systems.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 50-2-116, 50-2-130