Senate Bill No. 370
Introduced By thomas, cobb
A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act clarifying the provisions relating to architectural services to allow a school district to
determine whether architectural services are necessary for the building, furnishing, repairing, or completion of other work
for the benefit of the school district; eliminating the $50,000 limit relating to required architectural services; eliminating
negotiation for architectural service fees; amending sections 20-6-631 and 20-6-633, MCA; and providing an immediate
effective date."
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:
Section 1. Section 20-6-631, MCA, is amended to read:
"20-6-631. When contracts for architectural services required. Whenever the trustees of a school district determine
that the estimated cost of any building, furnishing, repairing, or other work for the benefit of a school district exceeds
$50,000 and EXCEEDS $50,000 AND requires architectural services UNDER TITLE 37, CHAPTER 65, such the trustees
of the school district may SHALL contract for those services shall be by contract."
Section 2. Section 20-6-633, MCA, is amended to read:
"20-6-633. Negotiation of fees Hiring for architectural services authorized. After selecting a firm, the If the trustees
determine pursuant to 20-6-631 that architectural services are necessary, the trustees shall negotiate with the selected firm a
fair and reasonable fee may SHALL hire a firm LICENSED ARCHITECT for the architectural services as described by the
school district's scope of the work. In the event the trustees and the firm are unable to negotiate a fair and reasonable fee,
the trustees may select another firm, provided the trustees again give reasonable public notice of their selection. IN THE
EVENT THAT THE TRUSTEES AND THE ARCHITECT ARE UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE A FAIR AND
REASONABLE FEE, THE TRUSTEES MAY SELECT ANOTHER ARCHITECT IF THE TRUSTEES AGAIN GIVE
REASONABLE NOTICE OF THEIR SELECTION.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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