53-9-108. Limitation of benefit entitlements to proportionate share of available funds. Claimants receiving benefits under this part are not granted an absolute entitlement to benefits. Benefits must be paid in accordance with the amount of the legislative appropriation. If the office determines at any time that the appropriated funds for a fiscal year will not be an amount that will fully pay all claims, the office may make appropriate proportionate reductions in benefits to all claimants. The reductions do not entitle claimants to future retroactive reimbursements in future fiscal years unless the legislature makes appropriations for retroactive benefits.

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Terms Used In Montana Code 53-9-108

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Office: means the office of victims services established in 2-15-2016. See Montana Code 53-9-103