HOUSE BILL NO. 547
INTRODUCED BY J. SINRUD, PARKER, SALES
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATING TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ROUND TRIPS REIMBURSED DURING SESSION; PROVIDING DEADLINES FOR AGENCY BILL DRAFTS; AND AMENDING SECTION 5-2-301, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 5-2-301, MCA, is amended to read:
"5-2-301. Compensation and expenses for members while in session. (1) Legislators are entitled to a salary commensurate to that of the daily rate of an entry grade 10 classified state employee in effect when the regular session of the legislature in which they serve is convened under 5-2-103 for those days during which the legislature is in session. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house must receive an additional $5 a day in salary for those days during which the legislature is in session.
(2) Legislators may serve for no salary.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), legislators are entitled to a daily allowance, 7 days a week, during a legislative session, as reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending a session. Expense payments must stop when the legislature recesses for more than 3 days and resume when the legislature reconvenes.
(4) After November 15 1, and prior to December 15 November 30 of each even-numbered year, the department of administration shall conduct a survey of the allowance for daily expenses of legislators for the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. The department shall include the average daily expense allowance for Montana legislators in determining the average daily rate for legislators. The department shall include only states with specific daily allowances in the calculation of the average. If the average daily rate is greater than the daily rate for legislators in Montana, legislators are entitled to a new daily rate for those days during which the legislature is in session. The new daily rate is the daily rate for the prior legislative session, increased by the percentage rate increase as determined by the survey, a cost of living increase to reflect inflation that is calculated pursuant to 15-6-134, or 5%, whichever is less. The expense allowance is effective when the next regular session of the legislature in which the legislators serve is convened under 5-2-103.
(5) Legislators are entitled to a mileage allowance as provided in 2-18-503 for each mile of travel to the place of the holding of the session and to return to their place of residence at the conclusion of the session.
(6) In addition to the mileage allowance provided for in subsection (5), legislators, upon submittal of an appropriate claim for mileage reimbursement to the legislative services division, are entitled to:
(a) three six THREE additional round trips to their place of residence during each regular session; and
(b) additional round trips as authorized by the legislature during special session.
(7) Legislators are not entitled to any additional mileage allowance under subsection (5) for a special session if it is convened within 7 days of a regular session."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Agency bill draft deadlines. (1) By September 15 of each even-numbered year, all bill draft requests for an agency must be requested through an appropriate interim committee in order to have "By Request of ..." placed on the bills, unless an individual legislator requests a bill on the agency's behalf.
(2) By November 1 of each even-numbered year, all final and complete bill drafts from each agency must be delivered to the legislative services division. Agency bill drafts that are not received by November 1 may not have "By Request of ..." printed on the bills, unless an individual legislator requests a bill on the agency's behalf. The bill is subject to all rules governing legislator bill drafts.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4), bills requested by agencies that have a "By Request of ..." line on them must be preintroduced according to a schedule adopted by legislative rule.
(4) A governor-elect or other newly elected statewide official may request bill drafts "By Request of ..." until the preintroduction deadline of the session following the governor-elect's or newly elected official's election.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 2] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 5, chapter 4, part 1, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 4, part 1, apply to [section 2].
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Latest Version of HB 547 (HB0547.02)
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