Additional Bill Links PDF (with line numbers)
SENATE BILL NO. 485
INTRODUCED BY C. JUNEAU
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A FINANCIAL LITERACY PILOT PROGRAM AT A MONTANA SCHOOL TO INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROJECT BY THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION; REQUIRING REPORTS AND EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."
WHEREAS, financial education enables young people to start early on positive habits such as saving money and budgeting as well as avoiding bad decisions that could result in years of financial pain, with one example being incurring an unmanageable level of credit card debt; and
WHEREAS, according to the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy's state of financial literacy in America:
(1) a study of 1,065 teenagers found that 21% of 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds have credit cards;
(2) a Charles Schwab survey on teens and money in 2007 reported that only 45% of teenagers know how to use a credit card while just 26% understand credit card interest and fees; and
(3) only one in three teenagers knows how to read a bank statement, balance a checkbook, and pay bills; and
WHEREAS, it is important to provide educational opportunities for students to gain the ability to make informed decisions regarding the use and management of money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature finds that more than ever in these times of economic uncertainty, it is in the best interests of the citizenry of this state to, from an early age, gain fluency in the workings of the nation's banking and financial system and the management of money. The purpose of [sections 1 through 5] is to create a financial literacy pilot program by which the effect of the educational program may be tested and its adaptability to all K-12 schools in Montana may be assessed.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 5], the following definitions apply:
(1) "Financial literacy" means the ability to make informed decisions about one's personal finances based upon an understanding of the principles of credit, debt, savings and investments, depository institutions, interest, and budgeting.
(2) "IDA program" means the individual development accounts program that uses matching funds to increase a student depositor's savings.
(3) "Program" means the financial literacy pilot program created in [sections 1 through 5].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Financial literacy pilot program account established -- sources -- use. (1) There is a financial literacy pilot program account in the state special revenue fund provided for in 17-2-102 into which must be placed all gifts, grants, and donations received from public or private sources.
(2) Money in the account must be used by the superintendent of public instruction to establish and fund the program in one Montana school.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Financial literacy pilot program project planning -- implementation -- evaluation. The first year of the program must be dedicated to planning, including the selection of the pilot project location by the superintendent of public instruction and the establishment of project guidelines such as staffing needs, curriculum training, and development of the IDA program and of evaluation strategies. Program design must utilize best practices methodologies available for financial literacy. The pilot program must be implemented during the second year.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Reports required. The superintendent of public instruction shall, at the conclusion of the project, provide a report to the education and local government interim committee containing those matters determined in the evaluation required by [section 4].
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2009.
NEW SECTION. Section 7. Termination. [This act] terminates July 1, 2011.
- END -
Latest Version of SB 485 (SB0485.01)
Processed for the Web on February 17, 2009 (4:52pm)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this Bill | 2009 Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
This bill in WP 5.1 | All versions of all bills (WP 5.1 format)
Authorized print version w/line numbers (PDF format)
[ NEW SEARCH ]
Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064