House Bill No. introduced by B. Mercer aims to revise laws related to state aid for public libraries in Montana. The bill amends Section 22-1-327 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to require public libraries to provide matching funds in cash, specifically stating that the match must equal $1 for every $1 of the grant received. Additionally, the bill stipulates that these matching funds cannot come from other state or federal sources but must be contributed by local or tribal governments. To ensure compliance, a certification from a responsible official is required.

The bill also maintains the existing structure for distributing state aid to public libraries based on a per capita and per square mile basis, with the total funding amount determined by the most recent decennial census. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 22-1-327
HB0613_1(1): 22-1-327
HB0613_1(2): 22-1-327
HB0613_1(3): 22-1-327
HB0613_1: 22-1-327