_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMITTEE; AMENDING SECTION 5-13-202, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 5-13-202, MCA, is amended to read:

"5-13-202. Appointment and term of members -- officers -- vacancies. (1) The legislative audit committee consists of six members of the senate and six members of the house of representatives appointed before the end of each regular session in the same manner as standing committees of the respective houses are appointed. Subject to 5-5-234, three four of the appointees of each house must be members of the majority party and three two of the appointees of each house must be members of the minority party.

(2) A member of the committee shall serve until the member's term of office as a legislator ends or until a successor is appointed, whichever occurs first.

(3) The committee shall elect one of its members as presiding officer and other officers as it considers necessary.

(4) A vacancy on the committee occurring when the legislature is not in session must be filled by the selection of a member of the legislature by the remaining members of the committee. If there is a vacancy on the committee at the beginning of a legislative session because a member's term of office as a legislator has ended, a member of the same political party must be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment, no later than the 10th legislative day, to serve until a successor is appointed under subsection (1)."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.