HOUSE BILL NO. 117

INTRODUCED BY OHS K

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT STATUTORILY AUTHORIZING THE MONTANA CONSENSUS COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS; PROVIDING FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."

WHEREAS, the Montana Consensus Council provides a resource for the Legislative and Executive Branches, as well as for citizens and other public officials, to resolve complex public policy issues; and

WHEREAS, since its creation by executive order in 1994, the Council has demonstrated its ability to facilitate and mediate agreements on natural resource and other public policy issues among Montanans with diverse viewpoints; and

WHEREAS, the Council fosters the use of consensus-building approaches and the services offered by facilitators and mediators in the private sector by providing information and education; and

WHEREAS, this legislation is an opportunity for the Legislature to provide more supervision of the Council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Montana consensus council -- purpose -- composition -- administration -- executive director. (1) There is a Montana consensus council.

(2) The council shall promote fair, effective, and efficient processes for building agreement on natural resource and other public policy issues that are important to Montanans.

(3) (a) The council is governed by a board of directors who must represent a diversity of viewpoints.

(b) The board shall act as a trustee on behalf of the citizens of Montana by:

(i) defining what benefits are provided by the council and for whom and at what cost they are provided;

(ii) setting broad policies to achieve the council's desired outcomes; and

(iii) monitoring the performance of the executive director's progress toward achieving the desired outcomes.

(4) The board consists of eight members appointed as follows:

(a) four members appointed by the governor;

(b) two members, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and the other by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(c) two members, one of whom is appointed by the minority leader of the senate and the other by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

(5) All members shall serve 2-year terms.

(6) A vacancy on the board must be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

(7) The board shall employ an executive director and prescribe the executive director's salary and duties.

(8) The council is attached to the governor's office for administrative purposes only.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 2, chapter 15, part 2, and the provisions of Title 2, chapter 15, part 2, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Termination. [This act] terminates July 1, 2003.

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