[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6114735,"mediaKeyId","2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0","parentId",2742558,"title","Corrections wins partial program funding; lawmakers press for cost‑per‑student data on rehab programs","audioSeconds",879,"startMs",9352000,"endMs",10231000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0&start=9352&end=10231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0/thumbnail_9352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114735/Montana/Corrections-wins-partial-program-funding-lawmakers-press-for-costperstudent-data-on-rehab-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114735-ebcdc06ba1dacf44a9facda4d375af32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179624&Signature=TIIWhpGjaHUjyfHSoSdQKcS72tl444jJpokKIa-pg~VSunclp90Zi-vA~Fa6-iuzzz5fx3metgiBMZw~A~ZsOR9hYdYp~34KLrdFfnB6OG8HLd3rOUI9J-5UE1CefamJzCHklb4hiZUmQXId3ugSZ1tisxsS8R1eYeHKU5zWosqMlAnjG4sfdXwViAu9ltwV9hVZT7dvQmM4Ucvi8AVDrKh4-KdmDCMr-ZXexCbcd8MQFsogjUlY69BKE2W9teoVixM65~5UzkJJY1usSEyWiw8f9Nw0J5i4ow2yiLGYMh32g1kKwPFhuI7QaTDQ0HLJMV7WXQnANVs7-Ec41R16wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Department of Corrections (DOC) presented its HB 2 budget to Subcommittee D as the panel’s largest agency by personnel. Committee members focused on three areas: reimbursements to counties for jail holds, rehabilitation and education program accountability, and a proposed canine program.

Appropriators raised county jail‑hold reimbursement levels to account for recent caseloads and authorized a higher per‑hold baseline to help counties absorb detained defendants while bed demand fluctuates. DOC also received funding authority to increase provider rates and a one‑time allocation for equipment and technology updates.

On rehabilitation, Chairwoman Nave told the panel her priority was to learn what the state is getting for its investment. DOC staff had been unable to provide consistent cost‑per‑participant metrics for many programs, so the subcommittee asked the department to calculate unit costs and participant outcomes during the interim. DOC staff described progress: the committee negotiated a first cost‑per‑student calculation for a single program and asked DOC to expand the analysis across other offerings, including substance‑use and vocational training.

DOC requested four new correctional K‑9 teams (handler + dog) to support facility searches, parole and field operations; the subcommittee initially funded one K‑9 team and indicated members may restore additional teams if DOC demonstrates the deployment model and statewide coverage needs. DOC also briefly discussed a tattoo‑removal idea tied to reentry; the chair said the committee deleted the proposal from the budget pending more evidence of program returns and clarity on how it would be implemented.

Department leaders and committee members agreed to continue working through the interim on program evaluations, rehabilitation outcomes and accurate unit costs; lawmakers said they would consider amendments if the department supplies clear performance evidence before final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Mar 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Corrections received partial funding for provider rates, county jail‑hold reimbursements and one canine team; appropriators pressed DOC officials for clearer cost‑per‑participant data before approving new recurring programs and noted they will review the department’s rehabilitation results during the interim.","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},6114740,"Judicial branch seeks pretrial funding, two judges for Yellowstone County amid overcrowded jail",3137,7820000,10957000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0&start=7820&end=10957","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0/thumbnail_7820000.jpg","/articles/6114740/Montana/Judicial-branch-seeks-pretrial-funding-two-judges-for-Yellowstone-County-amid-overcrowded-jail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114740-2e0148d420097a3b36dd34edbae6d025/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179624&Signature=dl-9F8TLB2UgfCDvhjeVbSUK~LWnJnIkQethW-cMfcZOB~Sdnap6V7B5NHltRmN1TV7BBZJRCED2yVcgLSJEQwDb7jTgeOBVZMsFHSRqVCEU7qQmmPnJsTp7LF-jOd0Efp8Ll2KEUuimrXMwfOzTLQz0axiFLRjwYEL3iSMhrePwWzDkCdA7BNRlvE9LpCZaFZXZZIY2v93rVbrkCxEwVYO7p5BSMnNcJeorMhvkDEGczpp9kG-xemXTIgL8RMMAntKUf2Z37nYGsBiPchgAaTRdgWmiS71q6PlnnAlvozsV8HG0PAtBlxxIgTFpRddj1VmhAh--G98szytjSRxl0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Justice Corey Swanson and Supreme Court staff told the House Appropriations Subcommittee D the Judicial Branch requested funding to continue a multi‑county pretrial services program and to add judges for Yellowstone County.

Dave McAlpin, court administrator, described the pretrial program as two parts: a Helena‑based assessment team that compiles risk and background information for judges and county-level monitoring that supplies supervision and testing for participants. McAlpin said the program provides tools that many counties lack and that the statewide office gives consistency and access to criminal‑justice databases needed for assessments.

The subcommittee approved two judges for Yellowstone County (the branch had requested three) and discussed pretrial funding. Judge Collette Davies, joining by phone, urged restoration of pretrial funds and explained the program’s local impact: “Yellowstone County Detention Facility has 645 inmates in there in a facility that was built to accommodate 434 folks,” she said, adding that pretrial monitoring and ankle‑monitor subsidies preserve community safety while keeping lower‑risk defendants out of jail.

McAlpin told lawmakers the program’s annual cost largely flows to participating counties; he provided a per‑county breakdown in committee testimony and said some counties receive assessments from Helena at no cost. Committee members asked for more particulars about program deployment and performance measures; the Supreme Court said it would furnish additional reports and implement a specialization study for the new judgeships to explore docket and resource efficiencies.

The judicial branch also flagged several pending bills that would create new workload and carry unbudgeted price tags; the chief justice asked lawmakers to consider those possible obligations during final budget decisions.","The judicial branch asked Subcommittee D to restore a pretrial services program and funded two additional district judgeships for Yellowstone County; judges and administrators warned that removing pretrial support would increase jail populations and constrain law enforcement.",{"_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},6114745,"Office of Public Defender says it needs dozens more attorneys; lawmakers approve partial increase, propose study",244,5972000,6216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0&start=5972&end=6216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0/thumbnail_5972000.jpg","/articles/6114745/Montana/Office-of-Public-Defender-says-it-needs-dozens-more-attorneys-lawmakers-approve-partial-increase-propose-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114745-653f4ec79d455418d853838f52ef1624/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179624&Signature=FR7f0-g~AFiY5Qxc5rwNyz65N0sk2tbZvtXmiuEdnIozKYLNKBFBqeD99nFZC44mxuxoQXWewbLTcyPhpiudSyO8udPnieKLiZ-83KJwEfV6s7VPZXKP8KEL5hgYkIiiaLk9Sx6-wEdWmONbi2GPUxymnSoR1xwW0t8yPYKA6S8jZqgUDzD2M-jFK~RNZtxCw3yzUewKu1eKwPg-p0MIL8RdlQQ3KNFdK4gUyzxYwHLfmxVHBKPlGZzT1N-Mwc54ksUhT0fFYhSd6TE3tBFOGes7Eiz7u0tAMmA4~~BhMGaWr9H5fM~-7FgmfoSBk1jNFxPSOU6j8mNwVg6fUWPEEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brad Chandelson, director of the Office of the State Public Defender (OPD), told the House Appropriations Subcommittee D that the office is operating with a persistent shortfall in attorney capacity. Chandelson said the gap amounts to “nearly 42 FTE attorneys worth of work,” meaning cases were being assigned but OPD could not staff them within its target timelines.

OPD presented a five‑year plan that would add 8 FTE attorneys per year to close the gap. The governor’s executive request included 16 new attorneys (8 per year for two years); the subcommittee approved half that request, funding 4 positions in year one and 4 in year two, and raised the hourly cap for private contract attorneys. Chandelson said OPD relies on a mix of government‑employed public defenders and contracted private attorneys and that a higher contract rate was necessary to recruit sufficient outside counsel.

Committee members pressed OPD for detail. Chandelson and committee staff explained that the office must assign counsel quickly when appointed and that legislative changes expanding appointment requirements in family and child‑abuse cases had increased workload. The chair described companion legislative language the subcommittee plans to include as part of the HB 2 package to give OPD assignment flexibility; Chandelson said the department would prefer maintaining counsel for children where conflicts require separate representation but acknowledged workload pressures.

Lawmakers also directed a statewide study of legal staffing and contracting to help determine a sustainable balance of permanent staff versus contract attorneys across state agencies. The subcommittee signaled willingness to consider additional funding if the study demonstrates continuing gaps and offered to review supplements backed by data.","The Office of State Public Defender told Subcommittee D it faces a shortfall equivalent to roughly 42 full‑time attorneys; the subcommittee approved a phased increase but not the full five‑year plan and directed a study of overall legal staffing and contract rates.",{"_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},6114749,"Attorney General urges pay boosts for highway patrol; committee debates funding source",539,3347000,3886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0&start=3347&end=3886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0/thumbnail_3347000.jpg","/articles/6114749/Montana/Attorney-General-urges-pay-boosts-for-highway-patrol-committee-debates-funding-source","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114749-c463fbc5989848229111234a67cd7574/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179624&Signature=S8P9O~jTm1rAoSIh-y5rgUeZXcSWSxIGacl36QjXF2KbG4DKa6QR9elix3cD1z2c9Xhm8VE6CAM2WKLlxfCmIZtjadXd4Y0zWIn4J5Kmwsqwu418qMpy4sbsz0pvxG6bRbmXhezjWsE4eiUKCkpw~mgKJWAZDBYV5NkvzfllvBegawRxwreTx~1duELX3ZhXB6l~dbPkeSpvV0D9aOfChoLS~4ktZBmPK1iWwh2HGLDxYH37r~Tkn8HYAwIL6lVrNXN5~63Nbz7ECqceIFEMEJ7ItvdtdiUko0JrCKxY3LwEH3XDRxdnlyLP7Zxjw8JzX-0sZYmpJPCACISSrwbnbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Justice told the House Appropriations Subcommittee D that recruitment and retention problems within the Montana Highway Patrol had reached a critical level and required a significant pay adjustment.

An agency representative identified trooper pay as the department’s largest single budget issue, saying plainly, “Trooper pay is killing me.” That testimony described a pattern in which county and municipal law‑enforcement employers frequently offer higher pay than the patrol, producing a steady churn of officers and recent waves of retirement that left vacancies in the patrol’s ranks.

The governor’s executive request had included a 14% pay adjustment for highway patrol employees; the subcommittee approved the raise but debated the funding source. The executive office proposed paying the increase from a state special revenue mechanism linked to vehicle/rail taxes (referred to in testimony as the “Maserati tax”); Chairwoman Nave said she preferred a stable general‑fund appropriation for an ongoing pay change and planned a technical amendment to switch funding sources.

Department of Justice staff outlined additional, smaller budget requests in the HB 2 package, including maintenance authority for the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and ongoing maintenance for a new motor-vehicle system (CARS). The department asked for authority (rather than new general fund dollars) in several line items where money already exists in special accounts; agency staff said the authority was needed to expend those funds for deferred maintenance and other recurring operations.

Will Selph, chief of staff for the Department of Justice, answered detailed committee questions on cost drivers and described the salary survey mechanism used to set comparable law‑enforcement pay. Committee members asked for the underlying salary‑survey data and for more detailed metrics from the department’s annual plan; the department said it would supply additional documentation to the committee for review during the interim.","The Department of Justice told the House Appropriations Subcommittee D that highway patrol recruitment and retention problems required a sizable pay increase; the committee approved a 14% raise in principle but debated whether to fund it from the general fund or a proposed railroad/vehicle tax referenced by the Executive.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114754,"Public Service Commission presses for staff, lawmakers decline additional railroad inspectors",677,233000,910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0&start=233&end=910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742558-b9a7023e627bfb99a5eadf1903ffc1c0/thumbnail_233000.jpg","/articles/6114754/Montana/Public-Service-Commission-presses-for-staff-lawmakers-decline-additional-railroad-inspectors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114754-fc8fea0d774bf5b4e4ac307f37e05ebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179624&Signature=PuoCZY3w-K2rlyPXCAAdL-7uo7Bqz8-Lm-nkcuI5klmLuT1eZjAP9mUOgpaAyOdG2jamfbtGsa1izzH95ZqwDYmUJCEe-NjSDjZigbf5R5aiyaEuRqAzqSHIYaPtXeB8dxyIBWwhjQY1omQXlvbbWZBBdzEl8BOR4kFMYCkOzs8ZeFbB8KEmzyh2AhsvgAgHKt0kl1g3btA3K53nqSWYkEdal~wL9~zhpTDHidFTTykoj54MWRyp19f-3VHAMVUMsmD64enZALMhqWWmQB9dVCKFaQdDoTfgCum4cjRbZ9vYkfy-jXsMRsnGIBmoztK9QczSVo7~rbOmNQk5~rWxyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairwoman Nave opened the Subcommittee D hearing on the public-safety portion of HB 2 by reminding members that “public safety is the most important function of government,” and then reviewed the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) budget request and staffing needs.

Commission Vice President Jennifer Fielder told the committee the PSC’s budget request included one personnel budget (DP 200) that the subcommittee did not approve. She asked the committee to consider an amendment to reinstate that position, describing it as an administrative role that would “handle all of the documentation in the MAPPA process in all of these contested case hearings” and free legal staff for research and analysis.

Lawmakers spent most of their exchange on a separate question: whether the state should expand rail inspection staffing. Representative Powers and Representative Tuss said they wanted more inspectors to prevent derailments near rivers and other sensitive areas. Commissioner Fielder and PSC staff explained the commission already employs two federally trained inspectors for car inspections and would need additional training, equipment and certification time to add track inspectors. Fielder said the commission “would be in the best interest of the state if we could prevent derailments,” and noted the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the primary regulator.

Subcommittee members pressed for data showing that adding state-owned track inspectors reduces derailments. Chairwoman Nave said the committee could not find strong cross‑state data proving an inspector expansion would reduce derailments and noted the federal government has explicit railroad inspection authority. PSC staff pointed to a legislative performance audit and an FRA recommendation showing Montana is short of inspectors; the PSC also described how its current inspectors find defects in rail cars and tag equipment that must be repaired before release.

On the PSC’s broader budget, the subcommittee approved most requests, including $200,000 for integrated resource planning work; it did not restore DP 200 (the one personnel request) and did not advance the rail-track inspector expansion from HB 103. PSC leaders committed to provide more deployment and staffing details if the committee reconsiders the policy next session.

The committee’s decision leaves the PSC with one fewer budgeted position than requested and without the HB 103 inspector expansion; PSC representatives urged lawmakers to weigh the FRA’s role and the commission’s limited personnel capacity as the legislature considers rail safety policy further.","The Public Service Commission asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee D to restore one personnel position and urged support for additional rail inspectors proposed in House Bill 103; legislators on the panel expressed caution, saying federal authority and data gaps complicate state expansion of track inspections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Corrections wins partial program funding; lawmakers press for cost‑per‑student data on rehab programs

Judicial branch seeks pretrial funding, two judges for Yellowstone County amid overcrowded jail

Office of Public Defender says it needs dozens more attorneys; lawmakers approve partial increase, propose study

Attorney General urges pay boosts for highway patrol; committee debates funding source

Public Service Commission presses for staff, lawmakers decline additional railroad inspectors