Senate bill NO. 324

INTRODUCED BY B. Brown

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING INFORMATION DISCLOSURE LAWS RELATING TO HARVESTING LARGE PREDATORS; PROTECTING THE IDENTITY OF PERMIT AND LICENSE HOLDERS; PROVIDING FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF HARVEST LOCATIONS AT THE HUNTING DISTRICT LEVEL; AMENDING SECTION 87-1-214, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Section 1. Section 87-1-214, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-1-214. Disclosure of information -- legislative finding -- large predators. (1) Except for information that is required by law to be reported to state or federal officials, the department may not disclose any information that identifies may identify any person who has obtains a permit or license to take a large predator as defined in 87-1-217 or who lawfully taken takes a large predator as defined in 87-1-217 during a hunt without the written consent of the person affected. Information that may not be disclosed includes but is not limited to a person's name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, and driver's license number.

(2)        The legislature finds that the prohibition on disclosure of information pursuant to subsection (1) is necessary to protect an individual's privacy, safety, and welfare.

(3)        The department may publish harvest locations of large predators at the hunting district level."

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