90-6-810. Procedure for approval of projects -- role of department and governor -- approval by legislature - Montana Statutes

     90-6-810. Procedure for approval of projects -- role of department and governor -- approval by legislature . (1) The department shall:
     (a) receive proposals for school facility projects from public school districts;
     (b) assist public school districts in preparing cost estimates for projects;
     (c) as appropriate, consult with other state agencies, including but not limited to the department of administration and the office of public instruction;
     (d) with the exception of emergency grants and matching planning grants, prepare and submit to the governor a list of recommendations as to projects and the form and amount of financial assistance for each project, prioritized in accordance with the requirements of 90-6-811;
     (e) report to each regular session of the legislature the status of all school facility projects for which grants were approved by a previous legislature but have not been completed;
     (f) award matching planning grants, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, to public school districts for the planning of school facility projects within the limits of legislative appropriations for this purpose. The department shall prioritize the award of matching planning grants in accordance with the requirements of 90-6-811. The department shall report to the governor and the legislature regarding each matching planning grant awarded during a biennium.
     (g) award emergency grants to public school districts in accordance with rules adopted by the department and within the limits of legislative appropriations for this purpose. The department shall report to the governor and the legislature regarding each emergency grant awarded during a biennium.
     (2) The governor shall review the projects recommended by the department under subsection (1)(d) and submit to the legislature a list of recommendations as to projects and the form and amount of financial assistance for each project.
     (3) (a) The legislature shall:
     (i) consider the governor's recommendations, approve grants to public school districts for school facility projects, and appropriate money to the department from the account to fund the grants that have been approved, after the deduction of administrative expenses by the department; and
     (ii) authorize funding and appropriate money to the department from the account to be awarded to public school districts by the department for matching planning grants and emergency grants, after the deduction of administrative expenses by the department.
     (b) Grants approved by the legislature are dependent on the availability of funds and will be made available by the department in the order that the grant recipient satisfies the conditions described in 90-6-812.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 377, L. 2009.