House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise the distribution and allocation of interest from the Coal Severance Tax Permanent Fund, with a specific focus on appropriating a portion of this interest to highway-related accounts. The bill amends Section 15-35-108 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to allocate $2 million annually to the Department of Justice for funding highway patrol officers' salaries and directs the remainder of the interest income to the Department of Transportation for highway-related purposes. Additionally, the bill extends the termination dates for certain appropriations from the interest of the Coal Severance Tax Permanent Fund to June 30, 2029.

The proposed changes include the deletion of previous allocations to the general fund and the introduction of new allocations specifically targeting highway funding. The bill also amends several sections of prior laws to align with the new termination date of June 30, 2029, ensuring that the funding mechanisms remain in place for an extended period. Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance funding for highway safety and infrastructure while maintaining the integrity of the Coal Severance Tax Permanent Fund's allocations.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-35-108
HB0615_1(1): 15-35-108
HB0615_1(2): 15-35-108
HB0615_1(3): 15-35-108
HB0615_1(4): 15-35-108
HB0615_1: 15-35-108