§ 17-5-703 — Coal Severance Tax Trust Funds

17-5-703 . (Temporary) Coal severance tax trust funds. (1) The trust established under Article IX, section 5, of the Montana constitution is composed of the following funds:
(a) a coal severance tax bond fund into which the constitutionally dedicated receipts from the coal severance tax must be deposited;
(b) a Montana coal endowment fund;
(c) a Montana coal endowment regional water system fund;
(d) a coal severance tax permanent fund;
(e) a coal severance tax income fund;
(f) a big sky economic development fund;
(g) a school facilities fund;
(h) a conservation district fund; and
(i) a coal board fund.
(2) (a) The state treasurer shall determine, on July 1 of each year, the amount necessary to meet all principal and interest payments on bonds payable from the coal severance tax bond fund during the next 12 months and retain that amount in the coal severance tax bond fund.
(b) The amount in the coal severance tax bond fund in excess of the amount required in subsection (2)(a) must be transferred from that fund as provided in subsections (4) through (6).
(3) (a) The state treasurer shall monthly transfer from the Montana coal endowment fund to the Montana coal endowment special revenue account the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account in accordance with 90-6-710 . Earnings not transferred to the Montana coal endowment special revenue account must be retained in the Montana coal endowment fund.
(b) The state treasurer shall monthly transfer from the Montana coal endowment regional water system fund to the Montana coal endowment regional water system special revenue account the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account for regional water systems authorized under 90-6-715 . Earnings not transferred to the Montana coal endowment regional water system special revenue account must be retained in the Montana coal endowment regional water system fund.
(4) (a) Starting July 1, 2023, the state treasurer shall quarterly transfer to the school facilities fund provided for in 20-9-380 (1) 10% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund in excess of the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund. The budget director shall certify to the state treasurer when the balance of the school facilities fund is $300 million. Beginning with the quarter following this certification, the state treasurer shall instead transfer to the coal severance tax permanent fund 10% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund that exceeds the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund.
(b) The state treasurer shall annually transfer on May 15 or the Monday following from the school facilities fund to the account established in 20-9-516 the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account. Earnings not transferred to the account established in 20-9-516 must be retained in the school facilities fund.
(5) (a) Starting July 1, 2023, the state treasurer shall quarterly transfer to the conservation district fund provided for in 76-15-108 65% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund in excess of the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund. The budget director shall certify to the state treasurer when the balance of the conservation district fund is $100 million. Beginning with the quarter following this certification, the state treasurer shall instead transfer to the coal board fund 65% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund that exceeds the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund. The budget director shall certify to the state treasurer when the balance of the coal board fund reaches $150 million. Beginning with the quarter following this certification, the state treasurer shall instead transfer to the Montana coal endowment fund 65% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund that exceeds the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund.
(b) The state treasurer shall monthly transfer from the conservation district fund to the account established in 76-15-106 the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account. Earnings not transferred to the account established in 76-15-106 must be retained in the conservation district fund.
(c) The state treasurer shall monthly transfer from the coal board fund to the account established in 90-6-1001 (2) the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account. Earnings not transferred to the account established in 90-6-1001 (2) must be retained in the coal board fund.
(6) (a) From July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2035, the state treasurer shall quarterly transfer to the big sky economic development fund 25% of the amount in the coal severance tax bond fund in excess of the amount that is specified in subsection (2) to be retained in the fund.
(b) The state treasurer shall monthly transfer from the big sky economic development fund to the economic development special revenue account, provided for in 90-1-205 , the amount of earnings, excluding unrealized gains and losses, required to meet the obligations of the state that are payable from the account in accordance with 90-1-204 . Earnings not transferred to the economic development special revenue account must be retained in the big sky economic development fund.
(7) Any amount in the coal severance tax bond fund in excess of the amount that is specified in subsection (2)(a) to be retained in the fund and that is not otherwise allocated under this section must be deposited in the coal severance tax permanent fund. (Terminates June 30, 2031--secs. 1 through 3, Ch. 305, L. 2015.)

Legislative History

En. Sec. 26, Ch. 505, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 298, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 512, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 722, L. 1991; amd. Secs. 3, 7, Ch. 12, Sp. L. January 1992; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 515, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 8, Sp. L. November 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 33, Sp. L. November 1993; amd. Secs. 1, 4, Ch. 495, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 61, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 380, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 114, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 588, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 14, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 389, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 390, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 259, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 377, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 6, Sp. L. November 2017; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 330, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 636, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 717, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 687, L. 2025.