Keeping in Touch: session approaching

While these December days are filled with bazaars, shopping plans, baking (and eating), decorating, singing carols, gathering together with friends and families, school programs, opportunities to help others and time to count your blessings, for me and other Legislators it is also a time to prepare for the upcoming 62nd Legislative Session which  begins on January 3, 2011 when we are sworn into office.

At the end of November, I was appointed to Chair the State Administration and Veterans Affair Committee for which I felt quite honored. This is an area where much of my experience as Sanders County Clerk and Recorder and Election Administrator is very useful because that experience relates to much of the legislation the SAVA Committee acts upon.  I served on this committee during the 2007 and 2009 Legislative Sessions and on SAVA Interim Committee between the sessions as well.

Then on December 13th, in addition to my chairing the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee, I was appointed to serve as a member on the Health and Human Services and Local Government Committees.  I served on both of those committees the previous two legislative sessions.

Bill submittal requests have been in full swing in preparation for the upcoming session.  Currently, 1738 introduced and unintroduced bill requests are in the system in various stages of preparation.  Of those requests, 114 have actually been drafted and two of them are mine.  House Bill (HB) 45 will amend laws relating to outdated state warrants and eliminate an unnecessary mailing while HB 46 will clarify the realty transfer act and removal of the necessity to require a social security number.

Other bill requests I have submitted that are in various stages of the  process include:  1) mail ballot elections for all elections except schools; 2) general revision of election laws for addressing things such as notices, retention procedures for voter records and appointment of election judges (LC0170.01); 3) generally revising mail ballot and absentee ballot laws for more conformity of procedures (LC0738.01); 4) elimination of local registration and disclosure filing for Legislative and statewide candidates (LC0151.01); 5) amending the Montana Constitution to authorize the valuation of property for property tax purposes to be based on productive or acquisition value; 6) designating small license plates as the default size for a trailer with a declared weight of less than 6,000 pounds (LC0437); 7) ultrasound viewing requirement for an abortion clinic or doctor prior to an abortion so that an ultrasound display is provided to the patient with an explanation of the development of the unborn child with  provided penalties for non compliance;  8) a Teacher Retirement System bill to address the need for benefit controls; 9) elimination of county classification designation to reflect current practices and taxable value criteria; and 10) a bill to revise laws relating to special levies for loan repayment for municipalities (LC 0759).

While I have presented a brief overview of the bills I’ve currently submitted, like most legislators, 150 to be exact, more may yet come forth as requests and/or sponsors are sought to carry bills that are already in the system but need legislators with knowledge and expertise of a particular issue who might be able to carry the bill successfully through the process.  

It’s important to know that as each bill continues to go through the process prior to the session, during the session and throughout the legislative session that bill will see changes, amendments and will receive a great deal of scrutiny by the many hands, eyes and ears which are involved in with legislative bill requests.   If you are interested in being able to track legislative bills, committee meetings and floor sessions, you can do so by going to the Montana Legislative website at http://www.leg.mt.gov.

It is important to hear from you, my constituents, during the legislative session, regarding proposed legislation, especially legislation you feel strongly about or have firsthand experience with, as you are very much a part of this process.  So please share your thoughts, your support or opposition and the reasons why on those pieces of legislation that concern you by “Keeping in Touch”.

As I continue to prepare for my service in the House of Representatives in 2011, I want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve you as your Representative and I to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very joyous and happy New Year!

I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, or by e-mailing me at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or you may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.