68th Legislature SJ 24.1
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24
2 INTRODUCED BY B. USHER
3
4 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
5 MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE
6 PROGRAMS FUNDED IN PART THROUGH STATE APPROPRIATIONS AND ADMINISTERED BY THE
7 MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
8
9 WHEREAS, the Montana University System administers several professional student exchange
10 programs in health care fields of study, including medicine, osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine,
11 dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, and podiatry; and
12 WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature provides taxpayer funds to support these programs; and
13 WHEREAS, few legislators understand how the programs work and the costs and benefits of the
14 programs to the state.
15
16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
17 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
18 That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory
19 committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to:
20 (1) compile basic information about the professional student exchange programs available to
21 Montana students, including comparisons of programs serving similar fields of study, for example, a
22 comparison of the health care programs under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and
23 WWAMI and of the veterinary medicine programs under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
24 Education and WIMU;
25 (2) review the application and selection processes for the programs;
26 (3) examine the costs and benefits of the various programs, including contributions the programs
27 have made to the availability of health care and veterinary medicine throughout the state; and
28 (4) investigate how the programs might be improved to increase the return on investment.
-1- Authorized Print Version – SJ 24
68th Legislature SJ 24.1
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education be requested
2 to provide support for the study.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be
4 presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review
6 requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2024.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions,
8 comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 69th Legislature.
9 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – SJ 24