_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DATA; REQUIRING THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER TO STUDY THE COLLECTION, USE, AND STORAGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DATA; REQUIRING REPORTING; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and A TERMINATION DATE."

WHEREAS, complete, accurate, and timely criminal justice data is necessary for implementation and assessment of criminal processes; and

WHEREAS, data standards ensure data is consistent, reliable, and comparable; and

WHEREAS, data analysis drives sustainable reforms in the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, the government should provide the public with full access to information concerning the conduct of the government, mindful of individuals' privacy rights and the desirability of the efficient administration of the government.

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Statewide criminal justice data study. (1) The statistical analysis center of the board of crime control shall conduct a statewide study to identify:

(a) what criminal justice data elements are currently collected and maintained by:

(i) the judicial branch;

(ii) the department of justice;

(iii) the department of corrections;

(iv) the board of pardons and parole;

(v) the office of the state public defender;

(vi) county detention centers;

(vii) county attorneys; and

(viii) any other state or local agency with responsibility for administering bail, detention, parole, probation, or pretrial services;

(b) the data management, personnel, and technology costs to collect the data;

(c) how all data elements are being collected, maintained, or reported, including but not limited to the software programs or technology used in the collection, maintenance, or reporting of the data;

(d) gaps in data and accessibility of data for research purposes and for use by judicial officials and other system stakeholders; and

(e) solutions for improving the collection, public availability, and accessibility of criminal justice data in an integrated, statewide database containing all data from the agencies listed in subsection (1)(a) that also consider data management and technology costs, capacity, and individual privacy considerations.

(2) The center shall report the findings and recommendations in a public report to the governor, attorney general, and legislature in accordance with 5-11-210 within 1 year of [the effective date of this act]. Prior to making final recommendations, the center shall conduct at least one public meeting to allow comments on its draft findings and recommendations.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2023.