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69th Legislature 2025 HB 253.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 253
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 253
2 INTRODUCED BY B. MERCER
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
5 HUMAN SERVICES TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN INFORMATION DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.”
6
7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
8
9 NEW SECTION. Section 1. (1) If the
10 governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to 10-3-303 that is considered a public health
11 emergency, the department shall make a daily disclosure of health information in accordance with the
12 confidentiality requirements of 50-16-603 on the department's website and any other means considered
13 necessary to communicate to the public the total number of individuals:
14 (a) hospitalized in the state due to conditions, diagnoses, or other impacts to an individual's health
15 that have been identified by the governor as a basis for the public health emergency; and
16 (b) who have died as a result of conditions, diagnoses, or other impacts to an individual's health
17 that have been identified by the governor as a basis for the public health emergency.
18 (2) For each category identified in subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b), the department shall disclose:
19 (a) the number of individuals within the following age cohorts:
20 (i) 0 to 5;
21 (ii) 6 to 15;
22 (iii) 16 to 25;
23 (iv) 26 to 35;
24 (v) 36 to 45;
25 (vi) 46 to 55;
26 (vii) 56 to 65;
27 (viii) 66 to 75;
28 (ix) 76 to 85; ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 253.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 253
1 (x) 86 to 95; and
2 (xi) 96 and above;
3 (b) the gender of individuals;
4 (c) any period of hospitalization of the individuals related to the conditions, diagnoses, or other
5 impacts to an individual's health that have been identified by the governor as a basis for the public health
6 emergency;
7 (d) the date of death, if applicable;
8 (e) underlying conditions, if any, that may have contributed to the hospitalization or death of the
9 individuals; and
10 (f) if not disclosed pursuant to subsection (2)(e), for individuals who have died during the time
11 period for which the department is disclosing the information required in this section, personal characteristics or
12 conditions of the individuals that may be causally connected to mortality or morbidity known to be associated
13 with the public health emergency.
14
15 NEW SECTION. Section 2. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
16 integral part of Title 50, chapter 1, part 2, and the provisions of Title 50, chapter 1, part 2, apply to [section 1].
17 - END -