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69th Legislature 2025 HB 656.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 656
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 656
2 INTRODUCED BY K. WALSH, E. BUTTREY, L. JONES, M. YAKAWICH, S. FITZPATRICK, J. ETCHART, K.
3 SEEKINS-CROWE
4
5 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING THE USE OF THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
6 ACCOUNT; TRANSFERRING THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
7 AND INDUSTRY; AMENDING THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACCOUNT TO INCLUDE FUNDING OF THE
8 OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
9 AS AN ALLOWABLE USE; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-51-409 AND 90-14-103, MCA.”
10
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
12
13 Section 39-51-409, MCA, is amended to read:
14 "39-51-409. (1) There is an account in the state special revenue
15 fund called the employment security account.
16 (2) Money deposited in the employment security account may be appropriated to the department
17 for payment of:
18 (a) unemployment insurance benefits;
19 (b) expenses incurred in the administration of the unemployment insurance program;
20 (c) expenses incurred in collecting money deposited in the account;
21 (d) expenses incurred for the employment offices established in 39-51-307, including expenses for
22 providing services to the business community;
23 (e) expenses incurred for the apprenticeship and training program and for the administration of 39-
24 71-319;
25 (f) expenses for displaced homemaker programs provided for under 39-7-305;
26 (g) expenses for department research and analysis functions that provide employment, wage, and
27 economic data;
28 (h) expenses for department functions pertaining to wage and hour laws, prevailing wages, and ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 656.1
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1 collective bargaining; and
2 (i) principal, interest, and redemption premium on employment security revenue bonds authorized
3 in section 5, Chapter 435, Laws of 2009. ;
4 (j) expenses incurred in the administration of the office of community service established in 90-14-
5 103; and
6 (k) expenses incurred in the administration and enforcement of state and federal laws that prohibit
7 unlawful discrimination. ; and
8 (l) expenses incurred in the administration of education programs and grants for education
9 programs administered by the department.
10 (3) Except as provided in sections 6 and 12, Chapter 435, Laws of 2009, the department may
11 transfer funds from the employment security account to the unemployment insurance fund account provided for
12 in 39-51-402 upon receiving approval from the budget director that the transfer will not decrease the money in
13 the account below the level appropriated by the legislature to provide for the employment services programs
14 identified in subsection (2).
15 (4) The department may transfer appropriation authority in employment services programs
16 between the federal special revenue and the state special revenue fund types."
17
18 Section 90-14-103, MCA, is amended to read:
19 "90-14-103. (1) There is an office of community service, which is
20 headed by a director and established in the office of the governor department of labor and industry.
21 (2) The purpose of this office is to:
22 (a) renew the ethic of civic responsibility in the state;
23 (b) encourage the citizens of the state, regardless of age or income, to engage in full-time or part-
24 time service to the state;
25 (c) call young people to serve in projects that will benefit the state and improve their life chances
26 through the acquisition of literacy, job skills, and interpersonal skills;
27 (d) build on the existing organizational framework of state and local governmental entities to
28 expand full-time and part-time service opportunities in a wide variety of programs for all citizens, particularly ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 656.1
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1 youth and older Montanans;
2 (e) involve participants in activities that would not otherwise be performed by employed workers;
3 and
4 (f) establish programs to accomplish labor-intensive improvements to public or low-income
5 properties or to provide services for the benefit of the state, its communities, and its people through service
6 contracts that specify the work to be performed.
7 (3) The director must be appointed by the governor, after consultation with the commission. The
8 director serves at the pleasure of the governor.
9 (4) The director, shall, with the advice of the commission, and in coordination with the department,
10 shall:
11 (a) assist the governor in the planning, coordination, operation, and evaluation of programs within
12 state government or under grants, donations, bequests, or other resources received by and administered
13 through state government for Montana community services. ;
14 (b) integrate and develop state plans for all services provided under this part, including but not
15 limited to the office of public instruction's service learning program, the Montana university system's innovative
16 projects, the department of military affairs' service involvement, and other community and volunteer service
17 programs; and
18 (5)(c) The director is responsible for the submission of submit applications for federal grants and for
19 funding from any other sources for the creation or operation of volunteer projects. The director shall ensure
20 accountability for all resources received.
21 (6) The director, together with the commission, shall integrate and develop state plans for all
22 services provided under this part, including but not limited to the office of public instruction's service learning
23 program, the Montana university system innovative projects, the department of military affairs' service
24 involvement, and other community and volunteer service programs."
25 - END -