House Bill No. introduced by J. Gillette aims to revise the laws regarding state settlement proceeds by mandating that such proceeds be deposited into the state general fund, with certain exceptions. Specifically, the bill stipulates that settlement agreements or amounts ordered to be paid on behalf of the state must be deposited in the general fund after deducting costs and attorney fees. Exceptions to this requirement include settlements executed before the effective date of the act, funds for the Montana tobacco settlement trust fund, restitution funds for victims, and recoveries related to natural resource damages. Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the handling of civil fines and settlement proceeds, ensuring that any excess funds are transferred to the general fund by the first business day in January of the subsequent biennium.

The bill also introduces provisions allowing the governor to authorize alternative allocations of settlement proceeds and requires the governor to report to the legislative finance committee if this authority is exercised. An appropriation of $10,000 from the general fund is designated for the office of the governor to facilitate reporting on the use of this authority. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes codification instructions for the new sections.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 30-14-143, 30-14-226
HB0472_1(1): 30-14-143, 30-14-226
HB0472_1(2): 30-14-143, 30-14-226
HB0472_1(3): 30-14-143, 30-14-226
HB0472_1(4): 30-14-143, 30-14-226
HB0472_1: 30-14-143, 30-14-226