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Committee declines to advance bill creating state program for tribal community health aides
Summary
Senate Bill 526, which would have set a Montana program to train dental, mental and behavioral health aide technicians with a delayed effective date and a $1 seed special revenue account, failed in committee on a 7‑7 vote. Supporters urged a “grow your own” approach for tribal colleges; some members raised fiscal and procedural concerns.
The Senate Education Committee deadlocked 7‑7 on Senate Bill 526 and did not advance the measure. The bill would have created a framework for a Montana Community Health Aide Program to train dental health aide technicians (DHAT), mental health aide technicians (MHAT) and behavioral health aide technicians (BHAT), and to establish a state special revenue account to accept outside funding for program development.
Sponsor Sen. Wendy Windy Boy said the bill is designed as a “grow your own” workforce strategy for tribal communities and tribal colleges, with a delayed effective date intended to give Montana institutions time to develop curricula and secure federal…
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