HOUSE BILL NO. 410

INTRODUCED BY S. VICK

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS THAT MAY BE INTRODUCED BY A LEGISLATOR IN A SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE; AND GOVERNING PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING THE PREPARATION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE LEGISLATURE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Bill requests and introduction -- limits and procedures. (1) A bill or resolution may not be introduced in the legislature unless it has been prepared for introduction by the legislative services division, established in 5-11-111, and is sponsored by a legislator or legislator-elect entitled to serve in the session for which the bill or resolution is introduced.

(2) A legislator may not sponsor more than six bills and resolutions in a session of the legislature. This limit does not apply to:

(a) a bill limited to repealing specified statutes;

(b) the following appropriation bills:

(i) a bill appropriating money for the operation of the legislature introduced as provided by legislative rule; and

(ii) bills appropriating money to implement the governor's budget prepared under Title 17, chapter 7, part 1;

(c) a bill recommended by the code commissioner under 1-11-204;

(d) a resolution requested by a rules committee related to adopting or amending the rules of the legislature; and

(e) a bill or resolution specifically authorized for drafting and introduction by a committee of the house into which the bill or resolution is to be introduced based upon a finding that the bill or resolution is necessary for technical reasons as a separate proposal.

(3) The following are entitled to request a bill or resolution to be prepared for introduction by the legislative services division:

(a) a legislator or legislator-elect entitled to serve in the session for which the bill or resolution is to be prepared;

(b) when the legislature is not in session, a committee of the legislature authorized by law to meet in the interim between sessions of the legislature; and

(c) during a session, a standing or select committee of the legislature.

(4) Before a committee may request preparation of a bill or resolution under subsection (3), the committee must have reviewed the general purpose and content of the proposal prior to requesting its preparation.

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