[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6353972,"mediaKeyId","2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e","parentId",2220771,"title","Enforcement asks for seven game wardens, sergeant pay increase and overtime/equipment funding","audioSeconds",78,"startMs",7887000,"endMs",7965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e&start=7887&end=7965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e/thumbnail_7887000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353972/Montana/Enforcement-asks-for-seven-game-wardens-sergeant-pay-increase-and-overtimeequipment-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353972-0c8051f66bba694d233df33e87d5acdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194451&Signature=OGhjWcp0680M6Sa4KXeoQivOlJjwSo8QhHSP15yqr4lCq7Ml-nFCB~9F2pwnpQ3JcjIAAXWhcRYvUhEFrC6Tnx5w36nEOV9F6oBWT01SBb~ODATQkWTrCHkmcLpBtTu6mJteRz9YKf5~vblPaYYBzSNo-TF~LQoXZ1BQnwsJ5fNMxZKmvcXKn15hk-4z-QWjMXuxfhIjROiO5SEuQIvDG92PyK-qrkzKxAmeuAg-qAdqL2GuVqwL~2veYyGLURsZDEt8IYYAy1BDg6JYbJZYhAfK87Qb1vl~FT0dTX2I~eGDcPBDtOA9NQ5mIUPZ1fN19CuYOpi45RpAz2Yul59YVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Ron Howell, chief of enforcement for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, told the committee the division is responsible for statewide enforcement of fish, wildlife, aquatic and recreational laws and reported steady improvement in vacancies after heavy turnover in 2023. Howell said the division now has only one vacant field warden position and that 63 wardens have under 10 years of service, with 40 under five years.

New positions and pay changes: Howell and committee staff presented NP402, a request for seven new game warden positions (one per the agency's seven administrative regions). Howell said the additions would improve protection of public resources and improve response timeliness. The division also requested a sergeant pay adjustment (DP401) to align supervisory pay with criminal investigator pay; Howell said investigators could earn more than sergeants despite sergeants' supervisory duties.

Overtime and equipment: DP405 is a base overtime adjustment to fund up to 100 overtime hours per warden each fiscal year; Howell said House Bill 13's pay changes have increased the cost of required overtime. DP404 would increase base equipment authority to purchase boats, UTVs and snowmobiles.

Coast Guard funding switch: Howell said NP406 would replace federal U.S. Coast Guard authority for the boating program with the general license account to avoid requiring Montana boat owners to register annually to satisfy federal compliance.

Public testimony and committee reaction: Multiple conservation groups spoke in support of the enforcement package and the seven new wardens during public comment: Clayton Elliott of Trout Unlimited, Ben Lamb of the Montana Conservation Society and Tom Jacobson of the Montana Wildlife Federation each urged the committee to approve agency requests for wardens and enforcement support. Committee members asked for a region-by-region breakdown of wardens and Howell said he would supply it.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation 2025-02-04","oneSentenceSummary","The enforcement division requested seven new field game wardens (one per administrative region), an across-the-board sergeant pay adjustment, additional overtime funding and base equipment authority to support boats, UTVs and snowmobiles.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353977,"Fisheries division requests staff for MDT stream permitting and funds for non-game monitoring",640,6082000,6722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e&start=6082&end=6722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e/thumbnail_6082000.jpg","/articles/6353977/Montana/Fisheries-division-requests-staff-for-MDT-stream-permitting-and-funds-for-non-game-monitoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353977-ad17e1ad3698de80b90300dcc0bed2e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194451&Signature=OLh7dWmBuwL8d8kHefflRAhx5OL11jkweDe7r7fapqMxw6OLOX8Z5GlgQdya6CHUe6dYLB4T2lEaM7ixrFVDVMNf-jI8~1g9bvtznntkc04cLvabPugY433oRypXlUztfdv3IJn0kqzq8l975eiEZ6k1NWmcJ4TAk8IxqpcpeiZEBn2~ELc~262MT9laudgynYD9MyMoNtzdiqdtirirtmP4gTM5hy-4-afCydpQ9MXscZQgZBaPZ~4xla31uY2PMRHseWvQH70UpEPadshveEoOJttpPREsW8WLQx6besCwiEgMpmm2e7M5uGhO4RqDtugmZKn3gmVmCBpP3iM1Rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Strainer, fisheries division administrator, told the committee the division manages fisheries and aquatic resources, estimating roughly 3.5 million angler days annually and an annual economic impact of about $1.3 billion from fishing-related activity. He described accomplishments including a statewide fisheries management plan implemented after the 2023 session and the state hatchery system's work (about 70 million fish stocked in the last biennium).

Stream permitting and MDT bridge work: Strainer said Montana Department of Transportation has a governor's initiative to rehabilitate or replace 500 to 700 bridges over five years; fisheries requested a one-time operations resource (NP301) to handle a projected spike in stream permitting reviews related to those projects. He described the request as one-time-only (OTO) and said fisheries would return with a future OTO ask if the need continued.

Non-game monitoring: Strainer described NP302, a non-game fisheries request to inventory and monitor species of greatest conservation need, to prevent potential Endangered Species Act listings and to reduce impacts on private landowners and other users. He told the committee the primary funding source identified for that request is tax revenue from marijuana sales.

Aquatic invasive species and habitat: The fisheries presentation noted the aquatic invasive species program performed about 23,000 watercraft inspections and intercepted 47 vessels transporting invasive mussels in 2024; the division also reported awarding $2.2 million in grants under a future fisheries improvement program and securing $11.3 million in matching funds for 45 projects. Strainer said the division's habitat work averaged a $6 match for every $1 spent by FWP on these projects.

Committee follow-up: Members asked about HB520 (the interim study on private ponds) and were told the Water Policy Interim Committee reported House Bill 74 out of study; staff promised to provide additional details on pond regulation and non-game program funding in follow-up materials.","FWP told lawmakers it needs one-time support to handle anticipated permitting for the Montana Department of Transportation bridge initiative and a recurring-plus request to expand monitoring of non-game aquatic species, funded largely from marijuana-tax receipts.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353981,"FWP seeks funding to modernize website, mobile app and centralized contract/volunteer systems",396,4449000,4845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e&start=4449&end=4845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e/thumbnail_4449000.jpg","/articles/6353981/Montana/FWP-seeks-funding-to-modernize-website-mobile-app-and-centralized-contractvolunteer-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353981-ca11c8a7150a2a86acf0b244c60440d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194451&Signature=fDLz83BACoLubEFj1QbPJ5UEbCXUrr7-3W5N3ef3uZDe8bsGiQ9FuiAUjTSy3ueMTXfjsONLrGjqt6RAc7p71ZIHyhLniUFyU-mW8Z2VzT67L0feCjoeP8Bm09C4QqN6uO7WOCJi5~ldWAXwhFFO-sjMjzj9wEIi4vSzZq5z0etbftGcGPZY0WfQy68-RxjadpjuIrE97V04b760n5lNosjGKzYsXl0u8f9UVgfkKOtfmxmMaiWfVmfsO2R-QG~bw524kPmqW-OE9eebOIspix4hLI4g~JWxv3~QsZkDOj-3SjYhtQcMOP6tZSkxtSvlI5GMnvwGK1CbCKJQ0i51dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Plunkett, chief information officer for FWP, briefed the committee on the Technology Services Division's requests, describing three items: a present-law DP for website support (DP103) to meet accessibility and mobile needs, DP101 to centralize contract and volunteer management and enable body-camera smartphone use, and DP102 to maintain and expand the MyFWP mobile app.

Lede context: Plunkett said upgrades include Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and mobile accessibility for the public and that the agency is asking for subscription-based (ongoing) funding to support those services.

Why it matters: The website and app are FWP's primary public portals for licensing, reservations and regulatory information. Lawmakers asked whether the mobile and contract/volunteer systems could be one-time investments; Plunkett said both DP101 and DP102 are subscription-based ongoing costs that include hosting, security and continuing development.

Details and examples: Plunkett cited recent developments the division delivered: online private-land hunting reservations integrated with the licensing system, bonus point management for Smith River floats, automated monthly license reports, and a mobile hunt planner that displays permit and quota information. She also said the enforcement division is piloting smartphone-enabled body-camera workflows to reduce separate equipment needs and simplify uploads to central evidence systems.

Committee questions: Senator Ellis asked whether DP102's $108,000 per year included operating costs; Plunkett confirmed it did. Representative Albus asked the CIO to continue simplifying licensure workflows on the website; Plunkett said the division is working on that consistently.

Next steps: Committee members requested DP-level cost and subscription details; staff confirmed the requests appear on page C13 of the budget book and that committee staff will review ongoing cost implications when drafting HB2.","The agency proposed a present-law website support request and new, recurring subscriptions for technology modernization and mobile app development to improve online licensing, accessibility, and enforcement tools.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353986,"FWP asks legislature to approve fleet, aircraft and maintenance proprietary rates and explains \"modified positions\" accounting",0,2142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e&start=2142&end=2142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e/thumbnail_2142000.jpg","/articles/6353986/Montana/FWP-asks-legislature-to-approve-fleet-aircraft-and-maintenance-proprietary-rates-and-explains-modified-positions-accounting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353986-0bbc4abb33c025d1bbd23015e4a68c21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194451&Signature=RBCOXk~1tiLzctQ~EMb4fCdsYIjVwDx3E7iqpJCxRaOcbU3bNCf59wuusBedgDZPX~SSCdzed-AoMcvEu~61ImjH7IH~C9SHHcjK2r3TkpN8LQnMTxfXDOOndUc9w0DVRbgKBEmRN5cfFk7lG1y1d6CYkwmwdrWf97iRPSOodXy~WZIgbjT4N~DixqYEEu1LR~R7Zp-nZJp-XgHftxhMHdFPVyzk1I2jxyDKDt2l~IjcXfZdmnwv7fs2yX95QNA5wMWTsQejAkMn3-YsbANc75e6zv~f6mrVvPvMcvvFyBBDeEElpHdRD153j1e3rKfzmieJJi5pJZAtDsP966MRQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lena Havron, chief financial officer for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, told the Legislative Finance Committee that the department operates proprietary programs for its vehicle fleet, aircraft and maintenance functions and that the committee and ultimately the Legislature must approve the maximum rates those programs can charge.

Why it matters: Proprietary rates are the billing rates FWP uses to recover costs for agency vehicles, aircraft and maintenance work; approving higher maximum rates affects how much agency programs pay for those services and how much revenue flows into the proprietary accounts that support maintenance staff and equipment.

Key points from the presentation: Havron said FWP runs about 638 vehicles and the fleet logs more than 6.6 million miles annually. The agency requested rates and a corresponding base-rate increase in program 9 so programs that use fleet resources have authority in HB2 to pay the new rates. For aircraft, Havron said single-engine fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter are in the fleet and that aircraft rates and the related decision packages will be discussed by the wildlife program. For maintenance, she told the committee the maintenance proprietary program now contains positions moved from HB2 in the prior session and that the program's efficiency has allowed FWP to do more work on properties; she said the rate decreased from the prior session but the program will be used to fund additional maintenance hours requested by divisions.

On modified positions: Rob explained that \"modified positions\" are temporary positions entered into payroll funded by authorized (non-PB) funding. He said agencies commonly budget operations funding that is then used to pay modified positions; because modified positions are not included in the position snapshot used to set base personal services, they do not automatically produce permanent PBs for the next biennium. Rob illustrated with numbers: if $1 million is appropriated and the agency spends $800,000 as personal services for modified positions that $800,000 does not become a permanent PB in the next snapshot but the $200,000 unspent becomes part of the base.

Committee follow-up: Members asked for the proprietary-rate tables in the FWP budget book (c11-c15) and for clarification of which FTE were moved into the proprietary maintenance program last session and how many remain in HB2.","FWP presented proprietary fleet, aircraft and maintenance rates the Legislature must approve and explained how temporary \"modified\" positions and operations funding affect future personal-services bases.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353991,"Fish, Wildlife & Parks budget request would increase biennium funding, add about 30 positions",1377,586000,1963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e&start=586&end=1963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220771-ebb4426df5669792030d3a5bf9dda67e/thumbnail_586000.jpg","/articles/6353991/Montana/Fish-Wildlife-Parks-budget-request-would-increase-biennium-funding-add-about-30-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353991-788903583489f7a507ec439a4e33f14a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194451&Signature=T~LjqObPIuNvGT55RzWUL4xQDvNsHKPjN41Z1mKzReF6Uwr6pIGI06iBep1RdhksMH9ZtIfUguMa-5EYMueSQW8TZSHFzVf3Wso-WlUfQtYVLNgiy03kQUMWK3~jVC9qBZD6kcBSXTJXm6Cp2KH~nL4yYd-nV5a1eWkP4GRb59r0~x92iK~Yxg97Gr3FLMfo1vLqc7O65RxfTqjdKaf4gPwj5gMQJFkfYo80ztYqxFf7Qo1e09Jr~rvuM1f~XFtYzb-HI0YNb7HiADImHaVP2RkmFjCt5OW2uuqCK3khxh1j21rp9Ablhfz7-ZxOE55np-THkfmEp1BDXaINd3JOAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks told the Legislative Finance Committee on the opening day of its Section C budget hearings that the agency's executive request would raise the department's biennial funding by about $25.4 million, or roughly 9.5% above the current base.

Rob (staff member) summarized the agency's numbers for the committee, saying the agency's base year shows 711.9 positions budgeted and the requested budget shows 742.26 positions budgeted — an increase of just over 30 positions. He said the request includes about $6.4 million in increased personal services (about a 5.1% rise) and that the change is driven by decision packages and statewide present-law adjustments.

Why it matters: The personal-services increase would fund both new, permanent budgeted positions and higher base pay demanded by some enforcement and supervisory roles; the package also contains several one-time items and funds that affect the biennial snapshot used to set future bases. The office's budget presentation signaled both recurring pay and nonrecurring investments that will affect future legislatures' decisions.

Details: Rob told the committee the executive request includes about $4.8 million in personal services tied to new positions (and roughly $1 million in associated operating expenses). The new-position requests listed in agency decision packages were described as seven game wardens in enforcement, about 7.35 state park staff, seven positions in education and communications, eight in administration and one position to manage the MyFWP website. Rob also noted roughly $4.0 million in operating expenses to support roughly 40 \"modified positions\" (temporary positions funded from authorized sources rather than permanent position budgets).

Rob also highlighted funding changes by source: the executive proposal would shift about $637,100 from federal funds to state special revenue in the department's House Bill 2 package. He said two-thirds of the department's state special revenue is concentrated in three funds: the general license account (about 53.6% of HB2 funding), hunting access (about 8.6%) and state parks miscellaneous (about 6.3%).

Agency context: Director Christy Clark told the committee the budget responds to growing outdoor recreation and infrastructure pressures and \"the work of our staff warrants the budget that will support them in managing our natural resources and the associated recreational opportunities.\" Clark cited rising visitation, landowner concerns and staff workload as central reasons for the request.

What the committee asked: Members pressed the agency's staff about how temporary (modified) positions affect the base, and staff explained that funds booked as personal services for modified positions do not create a new permanent positions snapshot unless those positions are converted to permanent PBs. Rob gave a numeric example: if $1 million is appropriated for modified positions and $800,000 is spent as personal services, $200,000 would remain in the base for the next biennium while the $800,000 would not carry forward as permanent PB funding.

Next steps: Committee staff said the section will continue agency-level questions and return later for executive action. Multiple lawmakers and public commenters expressed support for specific decision packages during the hearing and asked for line-item detail as House Bill 2 language is drafted.","FWP told the Legislative Finance Committee its executive budget would raise the department's biennial budget by about $25.4 million and add roughly 30 budgeted positions, driven largely by personal services increases and one-time appropriations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Enforcement asks for seven game wardens, sergeant pay increase and overtime/equipment funding

Fisheries division requests staff for MDT stream permitting and funds for non-game monitoring

FWP seeks funding to modernize website, mobile app and centralized contract/volunteer systems

FWP asks legislature to approve fleet, aircraft and maintenance proprietary rates and explains "modified positions" accounting

Fish, Wildlife & Parks budget request would increase biennium funding, add about 30 positions