Source: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/billhtml/sb0082.htm
Timestamp: 2018-06-20 17:10:44
Document Index: 431744320

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', 'arts 1']

Montana SB 82
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING STATUTES RELATING TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO EXAMINE DOCUMENTS AND OBSERVE THE DELIBERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT; CLARIFYING THE PROCEDURE FOR OPENING COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS; AMENDING SECTIONS 5-3-106, 18-4-304, 23-5-115, 23-5-116, 30-10-107, 33-1-409, 33-2-1116, 33-2-1701, 33-16-205, 33-20-1310, 44-4-203, 44-5-301, 50-15-121, 50-15-122, 61-3-101, 61-11-105, AND 81-23-302, MCA.
Section 1. Section 5-3-106, MCA, is amended to read:
"5-3-106. Procedure for polling legislators. (1) Within 5 days after receiving a request, the secretary of state shall send to all legislators by certified mail a ballot which that contains:
(a)(1) the names of the legislators making the request;
(b)(2) the reasons for calling the special session;
(c)(3) the purposes of the special session;
(d)(4) the requested convening date and time of the special session;
(e)(5) the date by which legislators must shall return the ballot, which may not be more than 30 days after the date of the mailing of the ballots; and
(f)(6) a stamped return envelope.
(2) The secretary of state shall keep the ballots secret until all legislators have voted or until the day after the date set for return of the ballots, whichever occurs first."
Section 2. Section 18-4-304, MCA, is amended to read:
"18-4-304. Competitive sealed proposals. (1) The department may procure supplies and services through competitive sealed proposals.
(4) After the proposals have been opened at the time and place designated in the request for proposals, proposal documents may be inspected by the public, subject to the limitations of:
(a) the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Title 30, chapter 14, part 4;
(b) matters involving individual safety as determined by the department;
(c) information requested by the department to establish vendor responsibility unless prior written consent has been given by the vendor, pursuant to 18-4-308; and
(d) other constitutional protections.
(5) The request for proposals must state the evaluation factors and their relative importance. The award must be made to the responsible and responsive offeror whose proposal best meets the evaluation criteria. Other factors or criteria may not be used in the evaluation. The contract file must demonstrate the basis on which the award is made.
(6) The department may discuss a proposal with an offeror for the purpose of clarification or revision of the proposal. In conducting discussions, there may not be disclosure of any information derived from proposals submitted by competing offerors."
Section 3. Section 23-5-115, MCA, is amended to read:
"23-5-115. Powers and duties of department -- licensing. (1) The department shall administer the provisions of parts 1 through 8 of this chapter.
(4) The department shall prescribe recordkeeping requirements for licensees, provide a procedure for inspection of records, provide a method for collection of taxes, and establish penalties for the delinquent reporting and payment of required taxes.
(5) The department may suspend, revoke, deny, or place a condition on a license issued under parts 1 through 8 of this chapter.
(6) The department may not make public or otherwise disclose confidential criminal justice information obtained in the application or tax reporting processes, except for general statistical reporting or studies or as provided in 23-5-116, as defined in 44-5-103, information obtained in the tax reporting processes, personal information protected by an individual privacy interest, or trade secrets, as defined in 30-14-402, specifically identified and for which there are reasonable grounds of privilege asserted by the party claiming the privilege.
(7) The department shall assess, collect, and disburse any fees, taxes, or charges authorized under parts 1 through 8 of this chapter."
Section 4. Section 23-5-116, MCA, is amended to read:
(ii) any other civil or administrative sanction or penalty imposed under a provision of this chapter or a department rule for a violation of this chapter or a department rule concerning a current or former gambling license applicant or gambling licensee, or any other person engaged in gambling or a gambling activity governed by parts 1 through 8 of this chapter, except:
(a) confidential criminal justice information, as defined in 44-5-103;
(b) personal information protected by an individual privacy interest;
(c) trade secrets, as defined in 30-14-402, specifically identified and for which there are reasonable grounds of privilege asserted by the party claiming the privilege; and
(d) information obtained in the tax reporting processes.
(3)(2) In addition to the information enumerated in subsections (1) and (2) Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in subsection (1), the department may disclose any other relevant information obtained in the application or tax reporting process or as a result of other department operations to:
(c) a gambling regulatory agency of another state, a local government unit of another state, a tribal government, or a foreign nation, provided that the disclosure of the information complies with the law of that jurisdiction and that the receiving entity has been approved for receipt by the Montana attorney general."
Section 5. Section 30-10-107, MCA, is amended to read:
"30-10-107. Administration. (1) The administration of the provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter must be under the general supervision and control of the state auditor, the ex officio securities commissioner. The commissioner may, from time to time, make, amend, and rescind rules and forms as necessary to carry out the provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter. A rule or form may not be adopted unless the commissioner finds that the action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors and consistent with the purposes of the policy and provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter. In prescribing rules and forms, the commissioner may cooperate with the securities administrators of the other states and the securities and exchange commission with a view to effectuating the policy of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter to achieve maximum uniformity in the form and content of registration statements, applications, and reports wherever whenever practicable.
(2) It is unlawful for the commissioner or any of the commissioner's officers or employees to use for personal benefit any information filed with or obtained by the commissioner and not made public. The provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter do not authorize the commissioner or any of the commissioner's officers or employees to disclose any information or the fact that any an investigation is being made, except among themselves or when necessary or appropriate in a proceeding or investigation under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter.
(3) The provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter imposing liability do not apply to any an act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any a rule, form, or order of the commissioner, notwithstanding that the rule or form may later be amended or rescinded or be determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason.
(4) Every hearing in an administrative proceeding must be public unless the commissioner grants a request joined in by all the respondents that the hearing be conducted privately.
(5) A document is filed when it is received by the commissioner. The commissioner shall keep a register of all applications for registration and registration statements that are or have ever been effective under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter and all denial, suspension, or revocation orders that have ever been entered under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter. The register must be open for public inspection. The information contained in or filed with any registration statement, application, or report may be made available to the public under rules the commissioner prescribes.
(6) Upon request and at a reasonable charge, the commissioner shall furnish to any person photostatic or other copies, certified if requested, of any entry in the register or any document that is a matter of public record. In any a proceeding or prosecution under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter, any a certified copy is prima facie evidence of the contents of the entry or document certified.
(7) To serve the purposes of 30-10-102, the commissioner may cooperate with the securities and exchange commission, the commodity futures trading commission, the securities investor protection corporation, any national securities exchange, or national securities association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, any national or international organization of securities officials or agencies, and any governmental agency, corporation, or body.
(8) Except as specifically provided in this title, an order or notice may be given to a person by personal delivery or by mail addressed to that person at the person's last recorded last-recorded principal place of business on file at the commissioner's office. An order or notice that is mailed is considered to have been given at the time it is mailed."
Section 6. Section 33-1-409, MCA, is amended to read:
(2) No later than 60 days following completion of the examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the department a verified written report of examination under oath. Upon receipt of the verified report, the department shall transmit the report to the company examined, together with a notice that gives the company examined a reasonable opportunity, but not more than 30 days, to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report.
(ii) The commissioner may not appoint an examiner as an authorized representative to conduct the hearing. The hearing must proceed expeditiously with discovery by the company limited to the examiner's workpapers that tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal. The commissioner or the commissioner's representative may issue subpoenas for the attendance of any witnesses or the production of any documents considered relevant to the investigation, whether under the control of the department, the company, or other persons. The documents produced must be included in the record, and testimony taken by the commissioner or the commissioner's representative must be under oath and preserved for the record. This section does not require the department to disclose any information or records that would indicate or show the existence or content of any an investigation or activity of a criminal justice agency.
(iii) The hearing must proceed with the commissioner or the commissioner's representative posing questions to the persons subpoenaed. The company and the department may present testimony relevant to the investigation. Cross-examination must may be conducted only by the commissioner or the commissioner's representative. The company and the department must be permitted to make closing statements and may be represented by counsel of their choice.
(5) (a) Upon the adoption of the examination report under subsection (3)(a), the commissioner shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for a period of 30 days, except to the extent provided in subsection (2). After 30 days, the commissioner may shall open the report for public inspection as long as a court of competent jurisdiction has not stayed its publication.
(b) This title does not prevent and may not be construed as prohibiting the commissioner from disclosing the content of an examination report or preliminary examination report, the results of an examination, or any matter relating to a report or results to the insurance department of this state or of any other state or country, to law enforcement officials of this state or of any other state, or to an agency of the federal government at any time as long as the agency or office receiving the report or matters relating to the report agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner consistent with this part.
(c) If the commissioner determines that regulatory action is appropriate as a result of any an examination, the commissioner may initiate any proceedings or actions as provided by law.
(6) All working papers, recorded information, documents, and copies produced by, confidential criminal justice information, as defined in 44-5-103, personal information protected by an individual privacy interest, and trade secrets, as defined in 30-14-402, specifically identified and for which there are reasonable grounds of privilege asserted by the party claiming the privilege obtained by, or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination made under this part must be given confidential treatment, are not subject to subpoena, and may not be made public by the commissioner or any other person, except to the extent provided in subsection (5). Access may also be granted to the NAIC. The persons given access to confidential criminal justice information, trade secrets, and personal information shall agree in writing, prior to receiving the information, to treat the information in the confidential manner required by this section unless the prior written consent of the company to which it pertains has been obtained."
Section 7. Section 33-2-1116, MCA, is amended to read:
"33-2-1116. Confidentiality of information. All information, documents, and copies thereof confidential criminal justice information, as defined in 44-5-103, personal information protected by an individual privacy interest, and trade secrets, as defined in 30-14-402, specifically identified and for which there are reasonable grounds of privilege asserted by the party claiming the privilege obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination or investigation made pursuant to 33-2-1115 and all information reported pursuant to 33-2-1111 and 33-2-1112 containing confidential criminal justice information, trade secrets, or personal information shall must be given confidential treatment, and shall may not be subject to subpoena, and shall may not be made public by the commissioner or any other person, except to insurance departments of other states, without the prior written consent of the insurer to which it pertains unless the commissioner, after giving the insurer and its affiliates who would be affected thereby notice and opportunity to be heard, determines that the interests of policyholders, shareholders, or the public will be served by the publication thereof of the trade secrets or personal information, in which event he the commissioner may publish all or any part thereof of the trade secrets or personal information in such a manner as he may deem that the commissioner considers appropriate."
Section 8. Section 33-2-1701, MCA, is amended to read:
"33-2-1701. Licensure of reinsurance intermediaries. (1) A person, firm, association, or corporation may not act as a reinsurance intermediary-broker in this state if the reinsurance intermediary-broker maintains an office directly, as a member or employee of a firm or association, or as an officer, director, or employee of a corporation:
(6) Licensed attorneys of this state, when acting in their professional capacity, are exempt from this section."
Section 9. Section 33-16-205, MCA, is amended to read:
"33-16-205. Noncompliance of rates -- notice. If, after examination of an insurer, rating organization, advisory organization, or group, association, or other organization of insurers which that engages in joint underwriting or joint reinsurance or upon the basis of other information or upon sufficient complaint as provided in 33-16-204, the commissioner has good cause to believe that such the insurer, organization, group, or association or any rate, rating plan, or rating system made or used by any such the insurer or rating organization does not comply with the requirements and standards of this chapter applicable to it, he the commissioner shall, unless he the commissioner has good cause to believe such that the noncompliance is willful, give notice, in writing, to such the insurer, organization, group, or association stating therein in what manner and to what extent such the noncompliance is alleged to exist and specifying therein a reasonable time, not less than 10 days thereafter after receipt, in which such the noncompliance may be corrected. Notices under this section shall be confidential as between the commissioner and the parties unless a hearing is held under 33-16-206."
Section 10. Section 33-20-1310, MCA, is amended to read:
"33-20-1310. Examination of business and practices of licensee or applicant -- maintenance of business records. (1) The commissioner may examine the business and practices of any licensee or applicant for a license when the commissioner determines an examination to be necessary. The commissioner may order a licensee or applicant to produce any records, books, files, or other information reasonably necessary to ascertain whether the licensee or applicant is acting or has acted in violation of the law or contrary to the interests of the public. The licensee or applicant shall pay the expenses incurred in conducting any an examination.
(4) The names of and individual identification data for all policyholders and certificate holders who have entered viatical settlement contracts with viatical settlement providers are confidential and may not be disclosed except as considered necessary by the commissioner in administration of this part in cases in which the commissioner determines that the merits of public disclosure exceed the demands of individual privacy."
Section 11. Section 44-4-203, MCA, is amended to read:
"44-4-203. Registration records. (1) The registration records of each vehicle so registered shall must be maintained by the department of justice.
(2) The contents of such confidential registration records may be disclosed only at the discretion of the attorney general when there is a legitimate law enforcement purpose for disclosure."
Section 12. Section 44-5-301, MCA, is amended to read:
"44-5-301. Dissemination of public criminal justice information. (1) There are no restrictions on the dissemination of public criminal justice information except. for the following:
(a) Whenever a record or index is compiled by name or universal identifier from a manual or automated system, only information about convictions, deferred prosecutions, or deferred sentences is available to the public.
(b) Whenever the conviction record reflects only misdemeanors or deferred prosecutions and whenever there are no convictions except for traffic, regulatory, or fish and game offenses for a period of 5 years from the date of the last conviction, no record or index may be disseminated pursuant to subsection (1)(a). However, the original documents are available to the public from the originating criminal justice agency.
(2) All public criminal justice information is available from the department or the agency that is the source of the original documents and that is authorized to maintain the documents according to applicable law. These documents shall must be open, subject to the restrictions in this section, during the normal business hours of the agency. A reasonable charge may be made by a criminal justice agency for providing a copy of public criminal justice information."
Section 13. Section 50-15-121, MCA, is amended to read:
(f) upon receipt by the department of an order directed to the department from a court of competent jurisdiction ordering the release must be issued upon request of any person.
Section 14. Section 50-15-122, MCA, is amended to read:
"50-15-122. Disclosure of information from vital records or vital reports -- rules. (1) It is the policy of the state to protect the integrity of vital records and vital reports, to ensure their proper use, and to ensure the efficient and proper administration of the system of vital statistics. In furtherance of the policy, it is unlawful for any person to permit inspection of or to disclose information contained in vital records or in vital reports or to copy or issue a copy of all or a part of a record or report unless authorized by this chapter, by administrative rule, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Rules adopted under this chapter must provide for adequate standards of security and confidentiality of vital records.
(2) The execution of a research agreement that protects the confidentiality of the information provided to a researcher in response to a written request is required for disclosure of information that may identify a person or institution named in any a vital record or report. This agreement must be made in compliance with this chapter or rules adopted to implement this chapter. Each agreement must prohibit the release by the researcher of any information that might identify a person or institution, other than releases that may be provided for in the agreement.
(5) Immediately upon the filing of a record with the department, the fact that a birth or death has occurred or a record of marriage or dissolution of marriage may be released to the public without restriction. Notwithstanding the restrictions provided in 50-15-121, complete birth or death records may be released to the public 30 years after the date of birth or death. The department shall adopt rules that provide for the continued safekeeping of the records.
Section 15. Section 61-3-101, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-3-101. Duties of department -- records. (1) The department shall keep a record, as specified in this section, of all motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers of every kind, of certificates of registration and ownership of those vehicles, and of all manufacturers and dealers in motor vehicles.
(a) the name of the owner, the residence address by street or rural route, town, and county, and the mailing address if different than from the residence address;
(b) the name and address of the conditional sales vendor, mortgagee, or other lienholder and the amount due under contract or lien;
(d) the manufacturer's designation of the style of the vehicle;
(g) the character of the motive power and the shipping weight of the vehicle as shown by the manufacturer;
(i) if a truck or trailer, the number of tons' capacity or GVW if imprinted on the manufacturer's identification plate;
(4) The department shall determine the amount of motor vehicle taxes and fees to be collected at the time of registration for each light vehicle subject to tax under 61-3-503 and for each bus, truck having a manufacturer's rated capacity of more than 1 ton, and truck tractor subject to a fee in lieu of tax under 61-3-528 and 61-3-529. The county treasurer shall collect the taxes and fees on each motor vehicle at the time of its registration.
(6) In the case of dealers, the records must show the information contained in the application for a dealer's license as required by 61-4-101 through 61-4-105, as well as the distinctive license number assigned to the dealer.
(8) All records must be open to inspection during reasonable business hours, and the department shall furnish any information from the records upon payment by the applicant of the cost of the information requested. Prior to providing the information, the department may require the applicant to provide identification. However, the department may, by rule, reasonably restrict disclosure of information on an owner or the owner's vehicle if the owner has requested in writing that the department not disclose the information or if the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure."
Section 16. Section 61-11-105, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-11-105. Release of information -- fees. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the department shall, upon request and with the licensee's approval, furnish a person the individual Montana driving record of a licensee, showing the following:
(a) licensee identification data, which may not include the individual's residence address, or information provided through means of an electronic tracking device;
(b)(a) driver's license status and expiration date;
(c)(b) convictions of the licensee; and
(d)(c) traffic accidents in which the licensee was involved.
(2) Unless the merits of public disclosure exceed the demands of individual privacy, a driving record of a licensee released under subsection (1) may not disclose an individual's address, social security number, photograph, medical or disability information, or information provided through means of a tracking device.
(2)(3) Information relating to a traffic accident that did not involve a conviction, as defined in 61-11-203, may not be released by the department unless the release is requested or approved by a party involved in the accident or is required by court order or a duly executed subpoena. The department shall, upon request, furnish a criminal justice agency or any person or firm having a legitimate purpose as determined by the department with the individual Montana driving record of a licensee showing the items listed in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(d).
(3)(4) A fee of $4 must be paid for each individual Montana driving record requested. A fee of $10 must be paid if a certified Montana record, as provided in 61-11-102(6), is requested. All driving records must be provided without charge to any criminal justice agency, as defined in 44-5-103, or other state or federal agency."
Section 17. Section 81-23-302, MCA, is amended to read:
"81-23-302. Establishment of minimum prices. (1) The board shall fix minimum producer prices for class I, class II, and class III milk by adopting rules in a manner prescribed by the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
(2) The board shall establish prices by means of flexible formulas that must be devised so that they bring about automatic changes in all minimum prices that are justified on the basis of changes in production, supply, processing, distribution, and retailing costs.
(3) The board shall consider the balance between production and consumption of milk, the costs of production and distribution, and prices in adjacent and neighboring areas and states so that minimum prices that are fair and equitable to producers and consumers may result.
(4) The board shall, when publishing notice of proposed rulemaking under authority of this section, set forth the specific factors that must be taken into consideration in establishing the formulas and, in particular, in determining costs of production and of the actual dollars and cents costs of production that preliminary studies and investigations of auditors or accountants in its employment indicate will or should be shown at the hearing so that all interested parties will have opportunity to be heard and to question or rebut the considerations as a matter of record.
(5) Specific factors may include but are not limited to the following items:
(a) current and prospective supplies of milk in relation to current and prospective demands for milk for all purposes;
(b) the cost factors in producing milk, which must include among other things the prices paid by farmers generally, as used in parity calculations of the United States department of agriculture, prices paid by farmers for dairy feed in particular, and farm wage rates in this state;
(c) the alternative opportunities, both farm and nonfarm, open to milk producers, which must include among other things the prices received by farmers for all products other than milk, the prices received by farmers for beef cattle, and the percentage of unemployment in the state and nation as determined by appropriate state and federal agencies;
(d) the prices of butter, nonfat dry milk, and cheese;
(e) the need, if any, for freight or transportation charges to be deducted by distributors from producer prices for bulk milk.
(6) If the board at any time proposes to base all or part of an official order establishing or revising milk pricing formulas upon facts within its own knowledge, as distinguished from evidence that may be presented to it by the consuming public or the milk industry, the board shall, when publishing notice of proposed rulemaking under authority of this section, notify the consuming public and the milk industry of the specific facts within its own knowledge that it will consider, so that all interested parties will have opportunity to be heard and to question or rebut the facts as a matter of record.
(7) The board, after consideration of the evidence produced, shall make written findings and conclusions and shall fix by official rule the formula under which minimum producer prices for milk in classes I, II, and III must be computed.
(8) This section may not be construed as requiring the board to promulgate a specific number of formulas, but it must be construed liberally so that the board may adopt a reasonable method of expression to accomplish the objective set forth in subsection (7).
(9) Each rule establishing or revising milk pricing formulas must classify milk by forms, classes, grades, or uses as the board considers advisable and must specify the minimum prices for the forms, classes, grades, and uses.
(10) Distributors who have processing facilities in this state shall, whenever possible, purchase milk from Montana producers for the processing of products to be sold in this state, provided that milk is available from Montana producers at the price set by the board.
(11) The board shall adopt rules after notice and hearing in the manner prescribed by the Montana Administrative Procedure Act to regulate transportation rates that distributors, contract haulers, and others charge producers for interplant transportation of milk. An allowance for transportation of milk between plants may not be permitted unless it is found by the board to be necessary to permit the movement of milk in the public interest. The board may promulgate rules regarding the requirement for first call on Montana milk supplies, as provided in subsection (10). Rules must be coordinated with those adopted pursuant to fair trade practices under 81-23-303.
(12) All milk purchased by a distributor must be purchased on a uniform basis. The basis to be used must be established by the board after the producers and the distributors have been consulted.
(13) The board may amend an official rule in the same manner provided in this section for the original establishment of milk pricing formulas. The board may in its discretion, when it determines that the need exists, give notice of and hold statewide public hearings affecting establishment or revision of milk pricing formulas.
(14) Upon petition of a distributor or a majority of a distributor's producers, the board shall hold a hearing to receive and consider evidence regarding the advisability and need for a base or quota plan as a method of payment by that distributor of producer prices. If the board finds that the evidence presented at the hearing warrants the establishment of a base or quota plan, the board shall proceed by official order to establish the base or quota plan.
(15) (a) Upon petition by 10% or 20 of the licensed producers in Montana, whichever is less, or upon petition by a licensed producer-distributor or distributor, the board shall hold a hearing to receive and consider evidence regarding the advisability and need for a statewide pooling arrangement as a method of payment of producer prices, provided that at the hearing, the board shall, among other things, specifically receive and consider evidence concerning production and marketing practices that have historically prevailed statewide. If the board finds that the evidence presented at the hearing warrants the establishment of a statewide pooling arrangement, the board shall proceed by official order to establish the arrangement. An official order is not effective until it is approved in a referendum conducted by the board by mail and by secret ballot among affected producers, producer-distributors, and distributors. The board shall keep confidential the vote of each producer, producer-distributor, and distributor voting in the referendum. The official order must be approved by a majority of the producers, producer-distributors, and distributors voting, representing more than 50% of the milk produced in Montana that is to be included in the proposed pool, based on each producer's average monthly production for the 12 months immediately preceding the referendum. If the board finds it necessary, the board may conduct more than one referendum on any order.
(b) The order of the board establishing the statewide pooling arrangement may include other provisions that the board considers necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the pool. These provisions may include but are not limited to:
(i) a statewide base or quota plan contemplated in subsection (14);
(ii) the establishment of a pool settlement fund to be administered by the department for the purpose of receiving payments from pool distributors or making payments to them as necessary in order to operate and administer the statewide pool; and
(iii) the establishment of a pool expense fund for the purpose of offsetting the costs to the department of administering the pool, funded by a special levy assessed against each pool producer.
(c) During the initial startup of a statewide pool, the department may draw from existing cash reserves to fund a pool settlement fund and a pool expense fund, but withdrawals from the cash reserve must be reimbursed.
(d) An order of the board establishing a statewide pooling arrangement that has been approved in a referendum may be rescinded in the same manner as provided for approval of the order under subsection (15)(a). The order may be amended without a referendum if, prior to amending the order, the board gives written notice of its intended action and holds a public hearing as required under the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
(16) The requirements of this section concerning notices of hearings for the establishment of milk pricing formulas apply to any hearings regarding base or quota plans or statewide pooling arrangements or abandonment of base or quota plans or statewide pooling arrangements.
(17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section must be enforced and audited for compliance by the department."
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