Two proposals regarding nuclear power advanced Tuesday in the Montana Legislature, with one bill in particular, which would strike down a 43-year-old referendum, sparking some debate among lawmakers.Â
The Senate voted 50-0 on its reading for Senate Joint Resolution 3 by Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena, that would have a legislative interim committee, or another panel, study the possibility of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) replacing coal-fired boilers at Colstrip with advanced nuclear reactors.
The study needs to be completed by Sept. 15, 2022, SJ 3 states. The resolution needs to clear one more reading to move forward in the Legislature.
The House moved Rep. Derek Skeesâ House Bill 273 forward, which would eliminate putting the construction of a nuclear facility up to a public vote and put it with the Legislature, bypassing a 1978 referendum that voters passed calling for such scrutiny.
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The state legislature of Montana, in the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, this week passed Senate Joint Resolution 3 by Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena, that would have a legislative interim committee study the possibility of small nuclear reactors. The study needs to be completed by September 2022. At the core of the proposal is a plan to replace aging coal fired power plants with small modular reactors (SMRs).
Under current law, employers must ask potential employees if they can do the job. Senate Bill 118, sponsored by Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena, would instead put the onus on employees to report their abilities to their employer.
An employee could also lose their workers compensation benefits if they misrepresent their needs.
Supporters like Brad Roy, representing Kalispell Regional Healthcare, say the bill would help businesses prevent fraud and better accommodate their employees.
“With disclosure of this information, an employer can better understand an employee’s limitations and then make the necessary accommodations,” Roy said.
The Senate Committee on Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs heard testimony from nine supporters and two opponents to the bill.
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