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69th Legislature HJ 56
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ENROLLED BILL
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE SERVICES AVAILABLE
AND FUNDED IN MONTANA; AND REQUESTING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE
REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the state of Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States in terms of overall
landmass with over 94 million acres; and
WHEREAS, Montana's unique landscape provides countless opportunities for outdoor recreation; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, Montana law enforcement agencies entered 2,263 missing persons into the
Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse; and
WHEREAS, Montana is one of the only states in the Unites States without a statewide search and
rescue program or coordinator; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 7-32-2121, MCA, each county sheriff has statutory authority to conduct
search and rescue operations; and
WHEREAS, tribal authorities are responsible for search and rescue within their respective jurisdictions;
and
WHEREAS, the resources needed for search and rescue operations often exceed those readily
available to local jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, much of Montana is made up of extremely remote areas that necessitate the use of
specialized equipment not readily available to local jurisdictions, often requiring the use of privately owned
equipment, such as boats or aircraft; and
WHEREAS, search and rescue personnel often need to be trained to operate in extreme or dangerous
terrain in remote areas or in dangerous conditions, such as partially collapsed structures or areas with
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hazardous materials, both of which require specialized skills that may not be available in a local jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, despite being only 6.5% of Montana's overall population, indigenous persons made up
30.6% of all persons reported missing in the state in 2023; and
WHEREAS, the seven Indian reservations in Montana make up almost 10% of the overall landmass of
the state; and
WHEREAS, 19 of the 56 counties in Montana border or contain Indian reservations, presenting unique
challenges to search and rescue operations when extraordinary situations necessitate interjurisdictional
assistance or reimbursement; and
WHEREAS, operational challenges for search and rescue missions posed by Montana's unique
environment and varying landscape are likely to result in costs exceeding the amount that may be reimbursed
by the state as provided in section 10-3-801, MCA; and
WHEREAS, operational reimbursement and grant funding for search and rescue teams are
administered by multiple state agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' 2020 fiscal year report on
department funding sources indicated yearly revenue distributed to the search and rescue fund totaling
$132,261 and a balance of $1,393,316; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 15-1-122, MCA, the search and rescue account provided for in section
10-3-801, MCA, is to be funded by 0.04% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund each
fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to sections 87-1-601 and 87-2-202, MCA, the search and rescue account
provided for in section 10-3-801, MCA, is to be funded by voluntary donations made when purchasing a
conservation license; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 10-3-801, MCA, local search and rescue operations conducted through
a county sheriff's office are subject to a maximum reimbursement of $12,000 for each rescue operation,
regardless of the number of counties or search and rescue operations that are involved; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 10-3-801, MCA, search and rescue operation reimbursement is
administered by the Disaster and Emergency Services Division of the Montana Department of Military Affairs
but can be obtained by request from the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association search and rescue
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subcommittee; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 10-3-801, MCA, only local search and rescue operations conducted
through a county sheriff's office are eligible for reimbursement, leaving tribal search and rescue teams and
operations disparately impacted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory
committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to:
(1) review and consider proposing legislation to:
(a) update reimbursement amounts based on inflationary and other analyses for local search and
rescue operations if the current amount provided in section 10-3-801, MCA, is not commensurate with actual
agency costs incurred, no matter how many agencies or jurisdictions are involved;
(b) clarify and streamline the process by which agencies make requests for reimbursement for
search and rescue operations;
(c) address the disparate rate of missing persons in Indian country and determine whether state
reimbursement is currently aiding search and rescue operations within those jurisdictions;
(d) enhance recognition of the difference between disaster-level events requiring intervention by
the Disaster and Emergency Services Division of the Department of Military Affairs and more typical events that
may be handled entirely at the local level through reimbursement, as provided in section 10-3-801, MCA, or
with minimal interjurisdictional assistance;
(e) update the search and rescue fund provided for in section 10-3-801, MCA, and update
allocations from the fund pursuant to section 15-1-122, MCA, from the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department
of Justice's fiscal year revenue deposited in the general fund and voluntary donations from conservation
licenses pursuant to section 87-1-601, MCA, administered by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks,
respectively, as appropriate; and
(f) centralize the administration of search and rescue funding; and
(2) review:
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(a) all sources of funding for search and rescue available to jurisdictions and teams in the state;
and
(b) any provisions of the Administrative Rules of Montana that may inhibit or otherwise affect funds
allocated for the provision of funds to jurisdictions requesting reimbursement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee include input from county sheriffs, municipal police,
tribal police, county fire departments, tribal fire departments, volunteer fire departments, emergency medical
services, volunteer search and rescue personnel, the director or designee of the Disaster and Emergency
Services Division of the Department of Military Affairs, the director or designee of the Department of Fish,
Wildlife, and Parks, the director or designee of the Department of Justice, and the director or designee of the
Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee recognize the unique challenges search and rescue
operations may face in Indian country and include input from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons
Task Force and tribal governments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be
presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review
requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2026.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions,
comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 70th Legislature.
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
HJ 56, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 56
INTRODUCED BY B. MITCHELL, G. LAMMERS, S. FITZPATRICK, B. LER
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE SERVICES AVAILABLE
AND FUNDED IN MONTANA; AND REQUESTING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE
REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE.