MEMBERSHIP 2011 ANNUAL MEETING LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES Evan Barrett

MEMBERSHIP 2011 ANNUAL MEETING LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES Evan Barrett, Andy Poole and Rick Edwards

2011 Legislative Session and Economic Development

Pulling JOBS from the Tea Leaves Governor Brian Schweitzer & 2011 Legislature Bill # Title/Purpose JOBS Bills Constructi Permanent Investment Annual on Jobs Triggered Property Taxes 105 $3. 54 Billion $105 Million SB 198 Eminent Domain 2580 HB 351 Treasure State Endowment Projects 1200 $ 49, 925, 488 HB 2 Federal Dollars - Jobs Related 1138 HB 2 Primary Sector Workforce Training 400 1240 HB 2 HB 140 Big Sky Economic Development HB 439 Bonding Bill 2400 TOTAL 6180 $100 Million 2883 $3. 7 Billion $105 Million

Pulling JOBS from the Tea Leaves Governor Brian Schweitzer & 2011 Legislature Bill # Title/Purpose JOBS Bills Constructi Permanent Investment Annual on Jobs Triggered Property Taxes 105 $3. 54 Billion $105 Million SB 198 Eminent Domain 2580 HB 351 Treasure State Endowment Projects 1200 $ 49, 925, 488 HB 2 Federal Dollars - Jobs Related 1138 HB 2 Primary Sector Workforce Training 400 1240 HB 2 HB 140 Big Sky Economic Development HB 439 Bonding Bill TOTAL 3780 2883 $3. 6 Billion $105 Million

House Bill 2 (Main Budget Bill) n Primary Business Sector Training OTO n n Indian Country Economic Development OTO n n n $800, 000/yr. Funded since 2005 Main Street Program OTO n n n $1 million/yr. Funded since 2005 Current biennium funding is over $5 million $125, 000/yr. Funded since 2005 Energy Promotion and Development Division (Base) n $455, 000/year

n House Bill 140 (Rep. Hiner) - ? ? Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund n n n n Would have reduced interest flow to the Trust Fund for from 2 to 4 years $1. 5 million/yr. Interest earnings diversion to GF Over $50 million in current trust fund Current funding is over $2. 5 million per year House Bill 198 (Rep. Ken Peterson) - Generally Revise Eminent Domain Laws Section 1. Power of eminent domain. A public utility as defined in 69 -3 -101 may acquire by eminent domain any interest in property, as provided in Title 70, chapter 30, for a public use authorized by law to provide service to the customers of its regulated service. Section 2. Power to exercise eminent domain. A person issued a certificate pursuant to this chapter may acquire by eminent domain any interest in property, as provided in Title 70, chapter 30, for a public use authorized by law to construct a facility in accordance with the certificate

n House Bill 316 (Rep. Cook) – 10% reduction of statutory appropriations n As introduced would have reduced support for each 2019 ED program by 10%. (4 year sunset) n n n As passed, all are whole except R&C which takes all of the cut Reduces BSEDTF corpus by 10% ($5 million - one-time) Reduces TSEP corpus by 10% ($19 million - one-time) Reduces +10% of the Bed Tax (3 year sunset) House Bill 317 (Rep. Cook) – Veto ? ? sunset for statutory appropriations n n n Sunsets Bed Tax on June 30, 2014 Sunset Statutory ED program on June 30, 2019 (same as now) Sunsets Big Sky Trust Fund on June 30, 2020

n n House Bill 334 (Rep. Reichner) - Generally Revise Workers Compensation Creates a significant net reduction in the cost of Montana workers compensation system. n n n 1. Expands certain benefits while reducing other benefits 2. Allows insurers to approve or designate the treating physician 3. Alters fee schedule rates for treating physicians and health care providers 4. Creates a Stay at Work / Return to Work assistance policy, fund, and policyholder assessment 5. Accepted medical benefits may be settled upon agreement of the insurer and the claimant, and the approval of the Department of Labor. This provision applies to any date of injury. 6. Terminates medical benefits, except for PPD’s and prosthetics, after 60 months with provisions for re-opening.

House Bill 351 (Rep. Cook) - Treasure State Endowment Project Funding n Funds 30 projects withn n $13, 753, 578 n n 6 additional projects if n n money left over n n $100, 000 for emergency grants n $900, 000 for infrastructure planning grants n n n n 1. Hardin, City of (water) $500, 000 2. Park County (bridge) 555, 626 3. Sheridan, Town of (wastewater) 750, 000 4. Yellowstone County (bridge) 157, 227 5. Madison County (bridge) 699, 931 6. Brady County Water & Sewer District (water) 750, 000 7. Carter Chouteau County Water /Sewer District (water) 750, 000 8. Sun Prairie Village County Water /Sewer District (water) 625, 000 9. Sweet Grass County (bridge) 156, 678 10. Beaverhead County (bridge) 426, 941 11. Carbon County (bridge) 406, 695 12. Jefferson County (bridge) 218, 634 13. Hebgen Lake Estates County Water & Sewer District (wastewater) 720, 000 14. Augusta Water & Sewer District (wastewater) 295, 000

n HB 351 – TSEP Cont. n n n n 15. Gallatin Gateway County Water & Sewer n District (wastewater) 750, 000 16. Fergus County (bridge) 276, 157 17. Melrose Water & Sewer District (wastewater) 162, 000 18. Blaine County (bridge) 434, 309 19. Deer Lodge, City of (wastewater) 500, 000 n 20. Lincoln County (bridge) 287, 827 21. West Yellowstone-Hebgen Basin Refuse n Disposal District (solid waste) 246, 563 22. Eureka, Town of (wastewater) 625, 000 n n 23. Fairfield, Town of (water) 500, 000 24. Ravalli County (bridge) 142, 616 n 25. Granite County (bridge) 276, 408 n 26. Roundup, City of (water) 500, 000 27. Roberts Carbon County Water & Sewer District (wastewater) 500, 000 28. Lockwood Water & Sewer District (wastewater) 750, 000 29. North Havre County Water District (water) 590, 000 30. Sand Coulee Water District (water) 200, 966 If $$ Left Over 31. East Helena, City of (wastewater) 750, 000 32. Bigfork Water & Sewer District (water) 750, 000 33. Custer County (wastewater) 750, 000 34. Crow Tribe for Crow Agency (water) 750, 000 35. Hill County (bridge) 174, 082 36. Polson, City of (water) 625, 000

n House Bill 611(Rep. Cook) - Revise accounts to implement House Bill 2 n n Funds the Ag Development Centers for the next biennium at $195, 000 per year. Funds come from the Research and Commercialization Account which is now down to a little more than $800, 000 for the next two years

n Senate Bill 294 (Sen. Buttrey) - Modifications to Primary Sector Workforce Training Program n n n Lowers the wage threshold from the lower of the County or State average wage including benefits to; 170% of the minimum wage or the County average wage, whichever is lower Allows for part-time workers in primary sector companies to be eligible. 25 to 35 hours per week can apply for up to $2, 500 Eliminates the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant Review Committee – MDOC will make decisions with internal LRC.

ADDITIONAL BILLS LIST One Time Only n Food & Ag Development Centers n n Previously funded at $250, 000/year Funded through HB 611; companion bill to HB 2 Takes funding from Research and Commercialization Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program n n Utilized by BEAR, SBDC, MMEC Previously funded at $590, 000/year

ADDITIONAL BILLS LIST n HB 439: Bonding bill n n SB 253: Eliminate certain tax credits n n MEDA supported; sent letters, testified, alerted membership MEDA opposed as first written; passed with amendments TIF BILLS

Thanks to MEDA Legislative Committee: Rick Edwards, Chair; Dore Schwinden, Evan Barrett, Larry Mires, Brian Gion, Brett Doney, Terry Myhre, Paul Tuss, Jim Smitham, Jim Davison, Steve Arveschoug, Dick King, Tracy Mc. Intyre, Sarah Converse, Philip Fletcher, Andy Poole, Tony Preite, Jim Atchison, Marie Fisher, Marcy Allen and Pam Lemer