_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT establishing statutory requirements regarding public notice and participation for legislative conference and free conference committees; providing minimum notice requirements; and requiring prepared amendments to be posted online."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Session conference committees -- public notice -- participation. (1) A meeting of a conference committee or free conference committee must be conducted as an open meeting, and minutes of the meeting must be kept. Pursuant to Article II, section 8, of the Montana constitution, committees are encouraged to provide at least 24 hours' notice and a minimum of 8 hours' notice to members of the committee, members of the  legislature, and members of the public. If less than 24 hours' notice is provided, the reason must be made public. A committee shall conduct a hearing with the opportunity for public comment for the purpose of commenting on proposed amendments or potential amendments to the bill.

(2)        Pursuant to Article II, section 9, of the Montana constitution, prepared amendments for a conference committee or free conference committee must be posted as a hyperlink on the electronic version of the daily agenda announcing the committee along with instructions to click on "Associated Amendments". Subsequent amendments must also be posted on the legislature's webpage that contains the history and status of the bill that is in the committee.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 5, chapter 2, part 2, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 2, part 2, apply to [section 1].