Montana unemployment rate

The fact measures the uninsured share of residents under 65. Repealing the HELP Act termination provisions concerns continued Medicaid eligibility for qualifying adults, a subset of that population. The relationship does not establish enrollment numbers or a change in the uninsured share. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Montana evidence context: People under 65 without health insurance. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Section 1. Section 39-12-103, MCA, is amended to read: "39-12-103. Montana HELP Act workforce development -- participation . (1) The department shall provide individuals receiving assistance for health care services pursuant to Title 53, chapter 6, part 13, with the option of participating in an employment or reemployment assessment in the workforce development program provided for in 39-12-101 to allow the participant to increase the participant's earning capacity and economic stability. The assessment must identify any probable barriers to employment that exist for the individual. (2) The department shall contact each program participant subject to the community engagement requirements of 53-6-1308 and assist the participant with completion of an employment or reemployment assessment. Based on the results of the assessment, the department shall provide the participant with workforce development services. (3) Allowable workforce development services include: (a) education and training; and (b) supportive services that assist a program participant with the items or services necessary to participate in the workforce, including but not limited to supportive services involving clothing, transportation, and equipment needed to obtain or maintain employment. (4) Entities contracting to provide workforce development services shall report quarterly to the department on the activities provided. At a minimum, the entities shall report on: (a) the number of clients enrolled in program activities and co-enrolled in other workforce programs; (b) the types of services provided; (c) the number of clients who attained a credential or gained a measurable skill; (d) the number of clients who exited the program; (e) the number of clients who exited the program to employment; (f) the number of clients who continued enrollment in the program; (g) the amount and type of outreach the entity has done to recruit program participants; and (h) the amount of money spent directly on participants. (5) (a) The department shall notify the department of public health and human services when a participant has received all services and assistance under subsection (1) that can reasonably be provided to the individual. (b) The department is not required to provide further services under this section after it has provided the notification provided for in subsection (5)(a). (c) A participant who is no longer receiving services under this section does not meet the criteria of 53-6-1307(6)(c) for the exemption granted under 53-6-1307(6). (6) The department shall report the following information to the legislative finance committee and the children, families, health, and human services interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210: (a) the activities undertaken to establish the employer grant program provided for in 39-12-106; (b) the number of employers receiving grant awards and the number and types of activities, training, or jobs the employers provided; and (c) the services provided and the total cost of providing workforce development services under this chapter, including related administrative costs. (7) To the extent possible, the department of public health and human services shall offset the cost of workforce development activities provided under this section by using temporary assistance for needy families reserve funds. (8) The department shall reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in determining and reviewing eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits by enhancing technology system support to provide knowledge-based authentication for verifying the identity and employment status of individuals seeking benefits, including the use of public records to confirm identity and to flag changes in demographics. " Section 2. Repealer. Section 28, Chapter 368, Laws of 2015, sections 38 and 48, Chapter 415, Laws of 2019, section 17, Chapter 456, Laws of 2019, and sections 3 and 4, Chapter 318, Laws of 2021, are repealed. Section 3. Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval. (2) [Section 1] is effective on October 1, 2025.

Median gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities and fuel. Recommendations on affordable workforce housing supply concern rental affordability as well as ownership; creating an advisory council does not build homes or set rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Montana evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GREG GIANFORTE, Governor of the State of Montana, pursuant to the authority vested in me under the Constitution, Mont. Code Ann. § 2-15-122 and any other applicable statutes, do hereby authorize the creation of the Housing Advisory Council, also known as the Governor's Housing Task Force ("Task Force"), and order as follows: PURPOSE The Task Force shall provide the Governor with short- and long-term recommendations and strategies for the State of Montana to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing. In developing recommendations and strategies, the Task Force shall seek input from Montana citizens, members of the Montana Legislature, Montana associations whose members are impacted by housing policy, advisory groups and researchers focused on housing policy, and other appropriate stakeholders as determined by the Task Force. COMPOSITION The Task Force shall consist of up to 30 members who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of'the Governor. The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall serve as the presiding officer of the Task Force. 2 Task Force members shall include, but not be limited to, persons from the following categories: • members or staff of professional associations representing business, industry, and workers; • state agency directors, or their designees, including from the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Labor and Industry; • elected officials, including state legislators and leaders from local jurisdictions; • members of state boards, councils, and commissions; • subject matter experts and researchers; and • stakeholders. The Department of Environmental Quality shall provide administrative support for the Task Force. Given the diverse composition of the Task Force, meetings may be conducted in person throughout the state and/or remotely as determined by the presiding officer. REPORT By October 15, 2022, the Task Force shall provide an initial written report to the Governor with recommendations and strategies to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing, specifically focusing on measures the Legislature could consider and the Governor could sign into law. By December 15, 2022, the Task Force shall provide an initial written report to the Governor with recommendations and strategies to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing, specifically focusing on regulatory changes and best practices that could be adopted by state agencies and local governments. The Task Force's reports shall identify federal, state, local, and other governmental policies, including but not limited to land use regulations and zoning restrictions, that inhibit increasing housing supply to meet demand. The Task Force's reports shall identify strategies and recommendations to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing - which state agencies may adopt through regulatory changes, the Legislature may enact into law, or local jurisdictions may adopt - for: • expanding the state's construction workforce; • reforming land use regulations; and • reforming zoning restrictions that prevent supply from increasing to meet demand. TERMINATION 3 The Task Force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2023, unless rescinded earlier or renewed by subsequent executive order. COMPENSATION Council Members shall be entitled to reasonable travel expense reimbursement under Mont. Code Ann.§ 2-15-122. THIS ORDER is effective immediately.