Eliminate the board of public assistance

This bill eliminates the Board of Public Assistance in Montana, transferring responsibility for public assistance appeals directly to the state department. It repeals the legal authority for the board and amends existing laws to allow applicants and recipients to request fair hearings directly from the department instead of the board. The bill includes a transition period requiring the board to finish all pending appeals before it is fully dissolved, ensuring no existing cases are left unresolved. Once the board is eliminated, the department will handle all future appeals for food stamps, cash assistance, nonfinancial assistance, and Medicaid claims.