Briefs for Feb. 28, 2024
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Housing Task Force to meet
News from the Governor’s Housing Task Force
MONTANA — The Governor’s Housing Task Force will meet on March 8, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in room 111 of the Metcalf Building, 1520 E 6th Ave. in Helena or on Zoom. The final agenda and Assignment #2 Summary Notes have been posted on the DEQ Housing Task Force webpage. The purpose of this meeting is to review and discuss Assignment #2: Analysis that focused on housing development case study examples and other information with an emphasis on finding Common Themes and Key Factors. Summary notes from the Successes and Challenges study group meetings have also been posted to the website. The DEQ staff contact is Bob Habeck. He may be reached at: bhabeck@mt.gov or 406-444-7305.
Meeting Details:
Friday, March 8, 2024, 12-2 p.m.
Room 111, Metcalf Building
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
1520 E 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601
Or join the meeting via Zoom:
https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/85672545597?pwd=VUZ1bmdSQkNxZ2ZQVFYvODJoQ09Gdz09
Webinar ID: 856 7254 5597
Passcode: 769048
Telephone: (206) 337-9723
Visit: https://deq.mt.gov/about/Housing-Task-Force for more information.
Tribal Health seeks to prevent respiratory illnesses
News from CSKT Tribal Health
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — If you are sneezing, coughing, or have a fever, please wear a mask upon entrance to all Tribal Health Centers. Help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. Masks are available at all Tribal Health Centers.
Open spring debris burning season
News from CSKT Division of Fire
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Spring debris burning season will open Friday, March 1. Burning is a great way to clear dead vegetation and clean up. Before you light your piles or grass this spring, take the necessary precautions to ensure your burn does not become the next wildfire. Careless debris burning is one of the main causes of wildfire on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
It is open burning season from March 1-April 30, 2024, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. To burn from May 1 to June 30 you will need a burn permit. You can apply for a burn permit starting April 30, 2024, at the Division of Fire website: csktfire.org.
Burn early in the day and check weather for afternoon or next day wind conditions. Have proper personnel, equipment, and water supply with you and always make sure the area is cold to the touch before leaving. Checking the following day is also important as stumps or roots may be holding heat that could re-ignite.
If a fire does get out of control call 911 immediately.
Remember you are responsible for all suppression, property costs if your fire escapes your control.
If you have any questions about debris burning call the Division of Fire at 406-676-2550.
Follow us on Facebook. CSKT Division of Fire.
DPHHS officials state 2022 administrative rule governs sex marker birth certificate change requests
MONTANA — On Feb. 20, Department of Public Health and Human Services officials announced that, effective immediately, the agency will process applications to change sex markers on Montana birth certificates pursuant to a 2022 administrative rule on the subject and consistent with a 2023 law.
“DPHHS must follow the law, and our agency will consequently process requests to amend sex markers on birth certificates under our 2022 final rule,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said. “This notification serves to keep the public apprised of the law and what to expect from DPHHS going forward.”
The 2022 final rule states the sex of a registrant on a birth certificate may only be corrected if the sex of an individual was listed incorrectly on the original certificate as a result of a scrivener’s error or a data entry error, or if the sex of the individual was misidentified on the original certificate.
In both cases, the department must receive a correction affidavit and supporting documents consistent with the law.
DPHHS adds that all requests for birth certificate sex marker changes received by, or pending with, the DPHHS Office of Vital Records on or after October 1, 2023, which have not yet been adjudicated will be evaluated and processed in accordance with the criteria set forth under the 2022 rule. This implementation date coincides with the effective date of Senate Bill (SB) 458, enacted into law during the 2023 Legislative Session.
While DPHHS adopted the 2022 rule pursuant to independent statutory authority, implementation of the rule aligns with the requirements of SB 458. Recently, the Department has determined that enactment of SB 458, with the ending of the preliminary injunction in Marquez v. State of Montana, et al., requires implementation of the 2022 rule.
SB 458 defines sex in Montana law and provides that sex is to be determined by the biological and genetic indication of male or female without regard to an individual’s psychological, behavioral, social, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.
This statutory definition controls for purposes of defining references to “sex” under Montana’s Vital Statistics statutes and administrative rules.
