Veterans (Veteran Healthcare)

This bill confirms the appointment of Richard Klose to the Montana Board of Veterans' Affairs, making him an official member of the state agency that oversees veterans' services. The resolution formally approves the governor's selection, which was submitted in January 2025, and grants Klose a term of office ending on August 1, 2027. By passing this measure, the Senate completes the required legislative step to validate the appointment under Montana state law. Once confirmed, Klose will serve alongside other board members to help guide policies and decisions affecting veterans in the state.

This bill reorganizes Montana's decennial veterans' long-term care needs study by shifting primary responsibility from the Department of Public Health and Human Services to the Montana Veterans' Affairs Division. The study will gather data on veteran demographics, long-term care requirements, and community service needs through surveys, focus groups, and collaboration with stakeholders like veterans' organizations and caregivers. Key provisions require the Veterans' Affairs Division to create a study plan and budget estimate before beginning, provide regular updates during the process, and submit a final report with recommendations to the state administration and veterans' affairs committee. The bill also mandates an analysis of existing veterans' home services and evaluates the need for additional state veterans' cemeteries.

HB 566 revises the decennial study that assesses the long-term care needs of veterans in Montana. It transfers primary responsibility for conducting this study from the Department of Public Health and Human Services to the Montana Veterans' Affairs Division. The bill mandates the involvement of stakeholders, such as veterans' outreach organizations, and expands the study's scope to include various care needs and the necessity of additional state veterans' cemeteries. It also establishes new requirements for a study plan, budget estimate, and regular reporting to an interim committee.