[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6303372,"mediaKeyId","2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad","parentId",2473462,"title","Bill to revise oversight of student scholarship organizations draws questions on fiscal workload","audioSeconds",345,"startMs",1130000,"endMs",1475000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad&start=1130&end=1475","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad/thumbnail_1130000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303372/Montana/Bill-to-revise-oversight-of-student-scholarship-organizations-draws-questions-on-fiscal-workload","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303372-1ec9bcca4ed7265c72d59c352185c9c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610909&Signature=XaZSn1q4HYh56enSJpQbZEFHy~FlqVyrqyRwbkNC4LTJXgz-7ZR6m2aZBPPsV0U0kwZVSjQnqRV5kkaxMKcKLLZd2czGyRjgmWiFQGQcC-gcQGwYc5MYpb6SAwlxMEv~e70m1VN8m52-QZZdWCNGjyUI48MFaIcoGN3-BM8C64FFyWLeFUbfzZ-k3NwzTlfVBdTliP9bxEr7WpZeJPIrkF-M2R7n~2gFZy0r4cUW8cYrujcBC2y3RBaXz1oX8TucFZd1l5e8-A9rFOEgVXYG6-7A6l-oOPcFBlu7JBiDcci2u2d6Kqx~eJ~-fhjRDBXlerjbY9Wf8sfbDiTdKvf5vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 253, described by sponsor Sen. Vinton as legislation \"generally revising laws related to student scholarship organizations,\" drew support from scholarship groups and questions from the Department of Revenue and committee members about administrative workload and the fiscal note. Ross Izzard of ACE Scholarships testified in favor, saying ACE is \"the largest and currently the only statewide student scholarship organization in Montana\" and that the bill should strengthen the Big Sky program.

The Department of Revenue provided informational testimony about certification and supervisory workload. Jake Ford, income and withholding taxes bureau chief, told the committee that \"I believe we currently have 25 that are registered with us,\" referring to student scholarship organizations on file with the department. Ford described tasks the department would carry out under the bill: designing an approval process, implementing a denial-and-appeal process with a 30-day cure period, reviewing whether organizations meet 501(c)(3) status and the requirement to allocate at least 90% of eligible donations to scholarships, and maintaining published information and links on the department website.

Senators pressed for detail on the fiscal assumptions. Sponsor Vinton disputed the department’s requested staffing level and offered a rebuttal to the fiscal note; he said the bill’s functions could be performed primarily by the scholarship organizations and that the department’s request for two permanent staff (one auditor-level FTE and an overseeing manager) appeared excessive. Vinton estimated the department might need only \"a quarter of an FTE\" to meet its obligations, while the Department of Revenue explained the department’s view that certifying organizations, managing denials and appeals and maintaining public links would create a new workload for which they requested two FTEs.

Committee members asked how many scholarships or donations would be involved and whether the new duties could be absorbed in existing units. Ford said his office’s estimate was based on creating a new education-focused unit and that the requested two positions were intended to manage the anticipated processes. He said the two-person request was Department of Revenue management's judgment about appropriate oversight for application review and final decision-making.

Senator Vinton closed by saying the bill requires the department to add a link and that he had not had time to discuss the fiscal note with the department before the hearing; he said he would work on clarifying the staffing assumptions. No executive action on SB 253 was taken at this hearing; the sponsor indicated an amendment would be prepared to scale the FTE request (later discussed as reducing to a half or quarter FTE in follow-up).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims - Mar 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 253, a measure to revise oversight of student scholarship organizations and set a certification process at the Department of Revenue, was heard in committee; proponents described it as strengthening the Big Sky scholarship program while the Department of Revenue sought two FTEs to implement certification and appeals.","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},6303375,"Senate committee advances bill allowing districts to hire ‘advanced opportunity’ facilitators",624,406000,1030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad&start=406&end=1030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6303375/Montana/Senate-committee-advances-bill-allowing-districts-to-hire-advanced-opportunity-facilitators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303375-482e3b1cc9cc4d72aea542e8689f5dd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610909&Signature=LeS4j2tEBWJTl9x56Hc0vf1Wq6R974APvsWRkGlzqXUTbUuWKb1BxkkX4BNLa9IE0USRRL6d7eGY-Da2eGTTZ3wabK4~pH1TkK3SQKNs0ZhnJoMYXRhf-WwzsLGBa~2fzjsoozOUpEnbAGZyA6e-~Jymt63qkv3zgREpVfWhtKfOxZcboJBlv9abTnrZ6dop~oahDqY00kh8X9TK9HZ~OqELL1yyoD5oaII~T~-DRmBTfDAFA2N690-GExdmjg5aBffNVLKO9TU-EybF2DBWrv6eXYfZOXES8wMqhmSiL6W-EoB9ollyJSpKFDlLXt1oikGIvYwY5Fc5QBQ2DE8K7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 278, which would let local school boards hire an \"advanced opportunity facilitator\" to coordinate internships, industry credentialing and connections among schools, employers and state agencies, passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and will go back for third reading. Sponsor Sen. Sarah Novak, Senate District 36, told the committee the position is intended as a local liaison to \"work with Department of Labor, Higher Ed, local industries, working to get kids credentialed with industry credentials as they graduate school or before they graduate school.\"

The bill’s fiscal note was a focus during testimony. Novak said the fiscal estimate was written around 90 districts that currently receive advanced opportunity funding and estimated that 45 would take the Quality Educator Payment (QEP) provided under the bill. Rob Watson, executive director of the School Administrators of Montana, urged support and noted the fiscal note figure and the QEP relationship: \"line 7 on page 2 item number 7 ... gives you an estimated increase of the quality educator payment ... brings up to $175,000,\" he said, asking the committee to view the position as a professional role deserving the QEP.

Proponents framed the position as flexible and locally adaptable. Sheridan Hoyer of the Montana Chamber of Commerce said the chamber supports the measure as one that \"allows but does not require school districts\" to hire the position. Novak clarified the facilitator would not have to be a certified teacher: \"it does not have to be a certified educator ... those partnerships ... it doesn't have to be a licensed educator.\" She said the role could free school counselors, who face large caseloads, to focus on other duties.

The committee opened executive action on the bill and a motion to \"do pass\" was made. The committee recorded a roll-call vote in which a majority voted to advance the bill; the clerk announced that Senate Bill 278 \"has been passed\" and will return on third reading.

The bill’s supporters described the measure as a local option that gives boards another tool to expand advanced opportunity programs and industry-aligned credentialing. The sponsor said districts can tailor hiring to local needs and predicted fewer than all eligible districts would immediately adopt the position, calling the fiscal note a conservative (\"worst-case\") estimate.

Votes at executive action were recorded on the committee record. The committee will send SB 278 forward for further consideration on the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 278: executive action outcome — passed by the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and returned to the floor for third reading.","Senate Bill 278, which would let local school boards hire an \"advanced opportunity facilitator\" to coordinate internships, industry credentialing and connections among schools, employers and state agencies, passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and will go back for third reading.",{"_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},6303364,"Senate Finance and Claims committee passes student-data privacy bill on voice vote",95,4305000,4400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad&start=4305&end=4400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad/thumbnail_4305000.jpg","/articles/6303364/Montana/Senate-Finance-and-Claims-committee-passes-student-data-privacy-bill-on-voice-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303364-afe04ec8d8226339727b432232c21e65/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610909&Signature=DGdiPLlNcXLuQu8nva7kFEwtE46DAeo2Xjff6m6B19MzzgEOGeiVJW-a5gpXDUwJTlQ5rdZCEjqd4wxPRY36X0K0ZfEOR84G2JboFtLcMRKCr7rZKYInMwj9IV3Ry1DMmSGAmznP0kUF0QpLuykBCvTN6wV4KzBjHPq08UZJ8B04AEVmOs~qV-LubdUFgn9xgU3GCnfOYv8Xl16J9ECSoG0fdCR6VKN2C-4Xlp8rLdC0mBMPtc7WW-C9BDF5X-ewEgM7TF-4gs8Aj711MHuTY310RhdMYkRq14~H9tMNYFUVciytQTLonc7J-aZOZNpAdNfEXUVWIvPAlj8vQnKxIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 118, described in committee as legislation \"generally revised student data laws to enhance privacy,\" was the subject of executive action in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. A motion to \"do pass\" was made and the committee chair called for a voice vote. Committee record indicates the motion passed with \"all proxies assumed to be yes,\" and the clerk announced that Senate Bill 118 \"has been passed\" by the committee and will proceed.

The executive-action entry on SB 118 in the hearing record was brief; the committee used unanimous proxies to move the bill forward and did not include detailed floor debate in the committee record excerpt. No proponents, opponents or informational witnesses were recorded in the audio excerpt of the executive action. The bill will proceed from committee to the Senate floor for further consideration.","Senate Bill 118, described as revising student data laws to enhance privacy, received a \"do pass\" motion in committee and was recorded as passed with proxies assumed yes; the committee record indicates the measure passed in executive action and will move forward.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303369,"Sponsor offers reduced FTE option after hearing on hiring PSI writers for Department of Corrections",1680,2444000,4124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad&start=2444&end=4124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473462-7122d80edd5c984b9c626d87cbfcb6ad/thumbnail_2444000.jpg","/articles/6303369/Montana/Sponsor-offers-reduced-FTE-option-after-hearing-on-hiring-PSI-writers-for-Department-of-Corrections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303369-bda1ed6ff355130061a029e3c05a74e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610909&Signature=QtfwUedlumoCQrSiyVr6X1~tSCqFpdtiosIcOQs-sue-OmiAcv651E4TrBDXPcdgo9tUM9eo~eqoLyBxCE9TJZzN5RirjHSHAodKhWf4bVXwsuVdhySbfhewyRIl74kxN4sQWe78BGJKf32EHNj24mjXycUkkw4xBqQqIRfaxlsDHZPBLa1JqZraLVjcNZro7luSjAadWfkkRA-2HLW3JNgqzXK9gmX7kOzY2dYgiFxdxloOOUx6uKuY5~mD55JUcmUqKhIsWKafUUeqFP3TLF4XdWTFBYMOcFpgYQcAAENT8SgNgggLrfB8Gdz-FBE~E5~FmQgv-9-ekpds~y~GFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 89, carried by Sen. Smith on behalf of the Criminal Justice Oversight Council, would add staff in the Department of Corrections to produce presentence investigation (PSI) reports and relieve probation officers with heavy caseloads. Smith said the proposal responds to understaffing that has \"impacted public safety and the quality of these pre sentence reports,\" and acknowledged the original fiscal note requested 14 FTEs but that she was \"open to a conversation\" to reduce that number; during floor discussion she said the Judiciary Committee had considered cutting the number in half and she would accept a smaller total.

Testimony and committee questions focused on how positions would be structured and why this could not be handled through existing agency reassignments or the governor's budget. Natalie Smitham, chief financial officer for the Department of Corrections, provided fiscal context and was asked how the department would allocate fewer FTEs. Smitham said a likely restructuring for a reduced request would include a smaller supervisory layer and more PSI writers: \"Most likely, we would go down to 1 probation parole sergeant and the remainder being PSI writers.\" She described the current staffing model as a mix of dedicated PSI writers and probation officers who also write PSIs in addition to field supervision duties; supporters said those combined duties limit the quality of PSI reports.

Committee members asked why the request did not originate as an agency budget request. The sponsor said the Criminal Justice Oversight Council identified the need based on stakeholder testimony from county attorneys and others about pressures on probation officers and PSI quality. Several senators expressed concern about process and prioritization. During executive action, a motion to pass SB 89 failed on a roll-call tie (11-11) and the committee voted to table the bill. Committee discussion noted that some of the requested staff had been included in the governor's budget package (house bill 2) and some members objected to adding positions outside that process.

Sponsor Sen. Smith closed by asking the committee to consider the proposal and the public safety rationale behind it; the committee tabled the bill after a tied vote and will not advance it at this time.","Senate Bill 89, proposing additional Department of Corrections FTEs to produce presentence investigation reports and relieve probation officers, drew questions about process and funding; sponsor said she is open to reducing the request from 14 FTEs to a smaller number and the committee later tabled the bill in executive action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to revise oversight of student scholarship organizations draws questions on fiscal workload

Senate committee advances bill allowing districts to hire ‘advanced opportunity’ facilitators

Senate Finance and Claims committee passes student-data privacy bill on voice vote

Sponsor offers reduced FTE option after hearing on hiring PSI writers for Department of Corrections