10-4-108. Rulemaking authority. (1) The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. The rules must include but are not limited to:

(a) distribution procedures for funding authorized in 10-4-305(1);

(b) procedures for grant funding authorized in 10-4-306. The rules for grant funding must include but are not limited to:

(i) eligibility requirements for entities applying for grants;

(ii) criteria for awarding grants; and

(iii) reporting procedures for grant recipients.

(c) postdisbursement activities by the department to monitor the use of funding by entities, including:

(i) reporting requirements; and

(ii) procedures for repayment of funds expended on activities determined not to meet eligibility requirements.

(2) The department shall adopt rules including but not limited to:

(a) technology standards, based on industry standards and a statewide 9-1-1 plan, to ensure that public safety answering points meet minimum 9-1-1 services levels; and

(b) baseline next-generation 9-1-1 principles to facilitate the appropriate deployment of baseline next-generation 9-1-1.

(3) (a) Before January 1, 2022, the department shall adopt rules for the allocation and distribution of funds in the account provided for in 10-4-304(2)(a) in accordance with 10-4-305(2) and (3) to local and tribal government entities that host public safety answering points.

(b) The rules adopted for allocation must be based on the official final decennial census figures and must ensure that each local and tribal government entity that hosts a public safety answering point receives funding. The allocation must account for:

(i) historic allocations provided to a local or tribal government entity that hosts a public safety answering point;

(ii) the population of counties, cities, Indian reservations, or other government entities served by the public safety answering point;

(iii) population trends; and

(iv) other factors determined by the department, in consultation with the 9-1-1 advisory council provided for in 10-4-105, critical to the funding allocation.

(c) The department's allocation may not distribute funds in a manner that discourages public safety answering points from consolidating or combining.

(4) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with the Montana Administrative Procedure Act provided for in Title 2, chapter 4, to implement the provisions of this section.