Bill > LC0138

This bill transfers the responsibilities of the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board to the Department of Environmental Quality, effectively eliminating the board and consolidating its functions within the department. The changes impact multiple sections of Montana law related to petroleum storage tank release cleanup, including administrative procedures for handling tank releases, reimbursement processes, and fund management. Specifically, the bill modifies provisions regarding loans to the department, definitions related to petroleum storage tanks, reimbursement procedures for tank owners and operators, and the administration of the petroleum tank release cleanup fund. Throughout the various sections, references to the "board" are replaced with "department," giving the Department of Environmental Quality direct oversight of tasks previously handled by the separate compensation board. The bill also includes a direct repealer of the statute establishing the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board, which formally eliminates the board's legal standing. This legislative change appears aimed at streamlining government operations by removing a separate board and integrating its functions into an existing state department, potentially reducing administrative complexity and potentially saving administrative costs.

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC0138