_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFT REQUESTS, HEARINGS, AND SCHEDULING; and establishing requirements for legislators to serve on committees."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Bills and resolutions -- requests, hearings, and referral. (1) (a) Subject to subsection (1)(b) and any limitations, deadlines, or both established by the legislature in its rules, a legislator may request bill drafts and resolutions.

(b) Limitations and deadlines on bill drafts and resolutions established by the legislature in its rules must be applied uniformly to all legislators.

(c) Pursuant to 5-11-112, bills and resolutions must be reviewed by the staff of the legislative services division prior to introduction for proper format, style, and legal form. The legislative services division shall store bills on the automated bill drafting equipment and shall print and deliver them to legislators.

(2) (a) Subject to subsection (2)(b) and any deadlines established by the legislature in its rules, a legislator may introduce legislation.

(b) Deadlines established by the legislature must be applied uniformly to all legislators.

(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), introduced bills must be referred to committee and scheduled for hearing. Hearings must be scheduled and conducted prior to any applicable deadlines established by the legislature in its rules.

(b) At the written request of the sponsor made at least 24 hours prior to a scheduled hearing, a bill may be withdrawn by the sponsor without a hearing.

(c) A committee shall act on each bill in its possession that has had a hearing in accordance with subsection (3)(a). Action on a bill must occur with sufficient time to ensure the bill will be placed on second reading prior to any applicable deadlines established by the legislature in its rules.

(4) A bill may not be referred to a second committee in a chamber if the referral will prevent the bill from meeting applicable deadlines established by the legislature in its rules.

(5) Legislation reported out of a committee must be placed on second reading prior to deadlines established by the legislature in its rules that are applicable to each piece of legislation. Scheduling must also ensure a third reading vote can be achieved prior to any applicable deadlines established by the legislature in its rules.

(6) (a) Except as provided in subsection (6)(b), the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives must sign legislation within 2 business days of receiving the legislation.

(b) With the authorization of the primary sponsor, the president or speaker may hold legislation without signature for a period of up to 10 days after sine die.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Standing committee assignments. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsections (1)(b) and (1)(c), each legislator shall serve on at least one class 1 and one class 2 committee.

(b) A legislator who serves on a subcommittee of the committee on appropriations may serve on a class 1 or class 2 committee, in addition to the house committee on appropriations or the senate finance and claims committee. A legislator serving on the house committee on appropriations or on the senate finance and claims committee is not required to serve on a class 2 committee.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a class 1 committee is scheduled to meet in the morning. A class 2 committee is scheduled to meet in the afternoon.

(b) Regardless of meeting time, the house committee on appropriations and the senate finance and claims committee are class 1 committees.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. (1) [Section 1] 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 1].

(2) [Section 2] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 5, chapter 2, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 2, apply to [section 2].