HOUSE BILL NO. 199
INTRODUCED BY A. OLSON
BY REQUEST OF THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE
AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO ENERGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT; PROVIDING THAT THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE HAS ADMINISTRATIVE RULE REVIEW, DRAFT LEGISLATION REVIEW, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND MONITORING FUNCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; REQUIRING THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUAL PROCESS TO DEVELOP THE COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATE ENERGY POLICY; AMENDING SECTIONS 5-5-230, 90-4-1002, AND 90-4-1003, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO ENERGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT; PROVIDING THAT THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE HAS ADMINISTRATIVE RULE REVIEW, DRAFT LEGISLATION REVIEW, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND MONITORING FUNCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; REQUIRING THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUAL PROCESS TO DEVELOP THE COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATE ENERGY POLICY; AMENDING SECTIONS 5-5-230, 90-4-1002, AND 90-4-1003, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 5-5-230, MCA, is amended to read:
"5-5-230. Energy and telecommunications interim committee. The energy and telecommunications interim committee has administrative rule review, draft legislation review, program evaluation, and monitoring functions for the department of public service regulation and the entities attached to the department for administrative purposes public service commission."
Section 2. Section 90-4-1002, MCA, is amended to read:
"90-4-1002. Definitions. As used in 90-4-1003, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Council" means the environmental quality council established in 5-16-101 "Committee" means the energy and telecommunications interim committee established in 5-5-230.
(2) "Department" means the department of environmental quality established in 2-15-3501."
Section 3. Section 90-4-1003, MCA, is amended to read:
"90-4-1003. Energy policy development process. (1) The department and the council committee, in cooperation with the consumer counsel and the public service commission, shall maintain a continual process to develop the components of a comprehensive state energy policy.
(2) Because of limited state resources and the need to focus intensive effort on specific issues of importance, the development of a comprehensive state energy policy must occur on an incremental basis. As the need arises, the department, in cooperation with the appropriate state agencies and with extensive public involvement, shall identify and recommend to the council committee specific components of a state energy policy for development under the consensus process described in subsection (3).
(3) (a) Upon selection of a specific energy policy component, the council committee shall assign to a working group composed of representatives of the parties with a stake in that specific component the task of developing consensus recommendations for that component of state energy policy.
(b) The working group must include the broadest possible representation of stakeholders in the issues to be included within the specific component of state energy policy.
(c) Whenever possible, the working group shall use a consensus process to develop recommendations for a specific energy policy component to be submitted to the council committee. Recommendations that are not based upon consensus must be so noted by the working group. Upon consideration of the working group's recommendations, the council committee shall forward its recommendations to the legislature and to the appropriate state agencies for adoption.
(d) The department shall:
(i) provide staff support to the working group, including policy analysis, data gathering, research, technical analysis, and administrative support;
(ii) provide administrative coordination among the appropriate state agencies in the energy policy development process;
(iii) prepare reports for and make recommendations to the council committee; and
(iv) consult regularly with the council committee to coordinate each agency's activities.
(4) In carrying out their responsibilities under this section, the department and the council committee may contract with experts, consultants, and facilitators and may seek funding from a variety of private and public sources for technical and other assistance necessary to accomplish their responsibilities."
Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
- END -
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