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Committee approves bill shifting lead for decennial veterans long‑term care study to Veterans Affairs Division
Summary
The committee approved HB 566 to make the Montana Veterans Affairs Division the lead agency for the decennial veterans long‑term care needs study, replacing an earlier arrangement that placed primary responsibility with DPHHS.
The House State Administration Committee voted to advance House Bill 566, which transfers primary responsibility for Montana’s decennial veterans long‑term care needs study to the Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD) and establishes additional planning and reporting requirements before the next survey cycle.
Sponsor Rep. Marta Bertoglio said the change is intended to place operational leadership with the agency most closely connected to veterans and veteran service organizations. Major General J. Peter Hronik, adjutant general and director of the Department of Military Affairs, and MVAD staff described capabilities MVAD now has to conduct outreach, use new survey tools and maintain ongoing data collection between decennial cycles.
Why it matters The bill changes which state office leads a recurring statewide study used to plan long‑term care and veterans’ home services; sponsors and proponents said that placing MVAD in the lead will improve responsiveness and outreach to veterans’ groups and increase transparency before survey launch. MVAD will be required to provide a budget estimate, outreach plan and proposed survey goals to the State Administration and Veterans Affairs interim committee during the interim before the census year.
What supporters said Major General J. Peter Hronik testified MVAD will bring expertise and existing outreach networks to the study and can use new survey platforms to gather more timely data. Roger Hagan, vice chair of the Montana Board of Veterans Affairs, and other veterans groups testified in support, saying MVAD’s connections to veterans organizations should increase response rates and the study’s utility.
Opposition and questions No formal opponents registered during the hearing. Committee members asked about roles for DPHHS, funding estimates and the timeline; proponents said DPHHS would remain a technical partner while MVAD would take the lead on outreach and coordination.
Next steps HB 566 passed committee executive action and will move to the House floor for further consideration.
