The bill proposes significant changes to the boundaries of hospital and school districts in Montana, aimed at improving public service accessibility for residents facing geographical barriers or inadequate road access. It allows qualified petitioners to request boundary changes and outlines the necessary procedures, including public hearings and elections. Key amendments include the replacement of the term "service district" with "hospital district," the introduction of specific definitions related to public services and isolated pupils, and the establishment of a reconciliation payment system for school districts that enroll isolated pupils from contiguous districts.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the taxable value of transferred territory between school districts be split for three years, ensuring fair financial arrangements during transitions. It also requires that if a reconciliation payment has been made before a territory transfer, the receiving district must budget and impose a levy to continue payments to the transferring district for three consecutive years. Overall, the bill aims to enhance access to essential services while ensuring that financial implications are managed effectively, fostering collaboration among school districts to better address the needs of isolated pupils.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-105
SB0260_1(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_1: 20-6-105
SB0260_2(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(12): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(13): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(14): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(15): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_2: 20-6-105
SB0260_3(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_3: 20-6-105
SB0260_4(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_4: 20-6-105
SB0260_X(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(12): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(13): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(14): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(15): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_X: 20-6-105