Economic Affairs

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The EAIC has completed its 2017-2018 work.

Click here for the 2017-2018 Work Plan

Committee Topics:

SJR 20 - a study of unemployment in high-poverty areas of Montana
SJR 27 - a study of workers' compensation in Montana
SJR 32 - a study of emergency care providers with a veteran component

Additional Committee Topics:
The HB 661 Study of MSU state-labs.
Participation in the HJR 20 study on health care price transparency

Note:

Public comment is considered a public record, whether made in person or written. See guide.

Agenda
Minutes Log
Proposed Agency Legislation - Legislative Council Guidelines
- State Auditor's Office
- Dept. of Agriculture
- Dept. of Commerce - Info on Big Sky Fund
- Dept. of Labor and Industry
- Dept. of Livestock
- Alcoholic Beverage Control Division
- Division of Banking/Financial Institutions
Proposed Committee Legislation
- LCRSCC to Repeal Rail Service Competition Council
- LCbsd1 to Revise High-Poverty County Definition
- LCDOR1 to Revise Alcohol Quota Areas, Auctions
- Bills to Revise Montana State Fund (MSF) - Key
  - LCMSF1 exempting MSF from certain state services
  - LCMSF2 allowing state to select work comp insurer
  - LCMSF3 providing for revised board appointment
Final Study Reports
- SJR 20 Report on Employment in High-Poverty Areas
- SJR 27 Report on the Future of Montana State Fund, Public Comment 1
  - Final SJR 27 Report Reflecting No Committee Bill Adoptions
- SJR 32 Report + Appendix 3 on Emergency Care Providers, Especially Related to Veterans
Reports from Agencies - Summary
- Apprenticeship Report
- Board of Housing Veterans Home Loan Program
- Board of Investments Memo, Website
- Board of Research and Commercialization Technology Report
- Distressed Wood Products Report
- Federal Land Management Review
- Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission
  - Economic Impact Report, Indirect Cost Rate
- Prescription Drug Registry Report
- State Tribal Economic Development Commission
- Treasure State Endowment Report/Quality Schools Grant Program
- Unemployment Data for Victims of Domestic Violence
Rule Review
Update on Alcoholic Beverage License Auctions
Reports from Liaisons:
- HB 661 Lab Study, LFD Added Info

Agenda
Minutes Log
Studies
- SJR 27 - Workers' Compensation
  - Early Draft Final Report, LC9997
  - Modification Options
  - Privatization/Mutualization Options
  - Dissolution Options
  - Fair Montana Report (public comment)
- SJR 20 - Unemployment in High-Poverty Areas
  - Draft Final Report
  - Legislative Option 1, 2, 3
- SJR 32 - Community Medicine/Veterans' Assistance
  - Draft Final Report + Health Care Data
  - Legislative Option 1
Rule Review
Proposed Committee Legislation
- Repeal Rail Service Competition Council (draft LCRSCC)
- Revisions to SB 5 from 2017 special session
Presentation on GAO Study of Air Ambulances
Other Handouts: Fantasy Sports Gambling Memo

Agenda (See SJR 27 April 27 Agenda, Minutes)
Minutes Log for April 26
Agency Monitoring
- Liquor Control Division - Overview
- Department of Agriculture Attached Agencies
- Department of Commerce Attached Agencies
- Department of Labor and Industry Attached Agencies
- Montana State Fund 2018 Budget
- State Auditor's Office Air Ambulance Update
Studies - SJR 20
- Draft Final Study, Appendix 6
Studies - SJR 32
- Draft Outline for Final Study: Comments 1, 2
Committee-Requested Legislation - Liquor Bill Revised
Rule Review February - April

Agenda (See SJR 27 April 27 Agenda here)
Minutes Log to be posted after meeting
Agency Monitoring
- Liquor Control Division - Overview
- Department of Agriculture Attached Agencies
- Department of Commerce Attached Agencies
- Department of Labor and Industry Attached Agencies
- Montana State Fund 2018 Budget
- State Auditor's Office Air Ambulance Update
Studies - SJR 20
- Draft Final Study, Appendix 6
Studies - SJR 32
- Draft Outline for Final Study: Comments 1, 2
Committee-Requested Legislation - Liquor Bill Revised
Rule Review February - April

Agenda
Minutes Log
Agency Monitoring
- Division of Banking and Financial Institutions Overview
- Department of Livestock
  - Letter from Congressional Delegation, Final EAIC letter
  - Overview of Meat Inspection Issues in Montana, Attachment
  - Post-meeting information: Civil Rights, Jerky Processing
- Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, Letter to Dept. of Revenue
Studies - SJR 20 Unemployment in High-Poverty Areas
- Tribal Resources Background Information
Rule Review for December/early January

Agenda
Minutes Log
Agency Monitoring
- Division of Banking and Financial Institutions Overview
- Department of Livestock
  - Letter from Congressional Delegation, Final EAIC letter
  - Overview of Meat Inspection Issues in Montana, Attachment
    - Post-meeting information: Civil Rights, Jerky Processing
Studies - SJR 20 Unemployment in High-Poverty Areas
- Tribal Resources Background Information
Rule Review for December/early January

Agenda
- Nov. 7, 2017, EAIC meeting
- Nov. 8, 2017, SJR 27 Meeting (see SJR 27 Study page)
Minutes Log
- November 7, 2017, EAIC
- November 8, 2017, SJR 27
Agency Monitoring
- Department of Commerce Overview
- Governor's Office of Economic Development Overview
- Department of Agriculture Overview
- Department of Labor and Industry
  - Active Supervision Letter - Board of Dentistry - ARM 24.138.2302 and 24.138.416
Studies
- SJR 20 Unemployment Study - November presentation
  - Background materials from September meeting
- SJR 32 Study of EMTs and Veterans, EMT Practice Scope, APCO Guidance, Chouteau County Suicide Call Protocol, auxiliary organization representative comments
Rule Review
- Update for October/November 2017

Agenda
Minutes Log
Revised Work Plan
- SJR 27 - Review of State Fund Studies, Topics
  - Letter from PCI
- SJR 20 - Unemployment: Montana, Yellowstone County
Agency Monitoring
- Montana State Fund
  - 2017 Board-Approved Budget
  - Presentation
- Department of Labor and Industry
  - Overview
  - 2017 Labor Day Report
  - Labor-Management Advisory Council Letter
- Department of Livestock
  - Board member background
  - Overview
  - State-inspected meat/poultry plants map (11x14)
  - List (11x14) of state or federally inspected plants
- State Auditor's Office
  - Overview
  - Presentation
Rule Review

Agenda
Minutes Log
- Sen. Gordon Vance elected presiding officer; Rep. Nate McConnell elected vice presiding officer.
- Rep. Vince Ricci and Rep. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy appointed as liaisons to Montana State Fund.
- Rep. Ricci and Sen. Tom Facey appointed as liaisons to the Rail Service Competition Council.
- Sen. Gordon Vance and Sen. Lea Whitford named as EAIC members of the HB 661 study of the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and other labs.
- Sen. Ed Buttrey and Rep. Mark Noland named to serve on the HJR 20 health care pricing transparency subcommittee if the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee chooses to have a subcommittee with expanded membership.
- A letter was signed and sent to Governor Steve Bullock and Labor and Industry Commissioner Pam Bucy to recommend renewal of the Labor-Management Advisory Council.
- Proposed, revised Work Plan
- List of Past Presiding Officers
- Interim Committee Guidelines
- Public Comment Guidelines
- Rule Review, Overview of Rule Review
- 2017 Legislation re: insurance, ag/livestock, alcohol/gaming, employment

The video/audio meeting archives are still under development. However, meeting recordings are available using the interface below.

A Guide to Using the Archives

Past/Current Recordings

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee (EAIC) is a joint bipartisan committee of the Montana Legislature that meets during the interims between legislative sessions. It conducts interim studies and generally reviews issues related to economic development. It also monitors the programs and functions of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor and Industry, and Livestock, as well as the Office of the State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Montana State Fund, the Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, and the Liquor Control Division.