Montana Legislative Services Division

Legislative Services Division

Susan Byorth Fox, ExecutiveDirector
Phone: (406) 444-3064
FAX number: (406) 444 - 3036

The Legislative Services Division (LSD) Staff acts as an independent, nonpartisan, impartial agency for the Legislature, performing those duties and functions assigned by law or as directed or requested by legislators or legislative committees. The Legislative Services Division works under general supervision of the Legislative Council.

The LSD staff also provides information to the public on legislative matters.

The LSD is divided into five offices: The Central Services Office, the Office of Research and Policy Analysis, the Legal Services Office, the Office of Legislative Information Technology, and the Environmental Policy Office.

The Central Services Office includes staff responsible for reception and general information, financial management, purchasing, publication distribution, payroll and personnel matters, final preparation of LSD documents (including engrossing and enrolling of bills and preparation of introduced bills), legislative printing and distribution, and legislator information and telecommunications.

The Office of Research and Policy Analysis and the Legal Services Office both perform general and specialized research, reference, and information functions. During legislative sessions and in the interim, personnel from both offices provide professional staff support to session and interim committees, draft legislation, prepare research reports, and provide information on the legislature to the public.

The Office of Research and Policy Analysis has primary responsibility for staffing interim committees and providing project management and research for interim studies, providing reference services, and staffing a library that provides access to items of special interest to legislators and Legislative Branch staff.

The Legal Services Office is responsible for the production of the Montana Code Annotated and the Annotations which includes updating, editing, and indexing under the supervision of the Code Commissioner, who is also the Director of Legal Services. The Legal Services Office is also responsible for adminisrtative rule review and review of proposed ballot issues for clarity and consistency, and for conformity with the bill drafting manual and for other legal requirements, and, if necessary, makes recommendations for revisions.

The Office of Legislative Information Technology provides computer network and PC support personnel, systems analysts, and programmer/analysts who develop and maintain the programs and applications of the Legislative IT Enterprise used by the Legislative Branch, including an online bill status system (LAWS).

The Environmental Policy Office staff provides impartial, nonpolitical environmental and natural resource information to the Environmental Quality Council, the Legislature, and the public. Staff duties include researching and writing reports, organizing public meetings and hearings, drafting legislation, and conducting studies assigned by the Legislature. The staff also reviews draft legislation for the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; and provides staff services to several committees during the legislative session.

Detailed description of the Legislative Services Division organization and functions.

The Legislative Services Division is located in the Capitol building:
Room 110, State Capitol Bldg.
1301 E. Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59601

Mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers for the Legislative Branch.


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	Last Modified:11/27/2007 5:23:24 PM