(1) The department of labor and industry shall determine whether or not certain contractors are residents of the state of Montana within the meaning of 18-1-102 and 18-1-103. Any public agency charged by law with the responsibility for the execution of any contract subject to the provisions of 18-1-102 may request that a determination of resident or nonresident status be made by the department of labor and industry. All requests must specify the name and address of the licensed public contractor for whom a determination of resident or nonresident status is required.
(2) If a determination is made that a public contractor is not a resident but the public contractor later qualifies as a resident, the contractor may apply to the department of labor and industry for a redetermination of residency. If, upon redetermination, the public contractor is found to qualify as a resident, the contractor must be furnished a letter by the department of labor and industry attesting to resident status.
(3) The determination of the department of labor and industry that a public contractor is or is not a resident within the meaning of 18-1-102 and 18-1-103 is prima facie evidence of that fact.