Senate joint resolution NO. 26

INTRODUCED BY D. Zolnikov

By Request of the ****

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of public INFORMATION requests; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 69th Legislature.

WHEREAS, Montana's public records laws were overhauled in 2015; and

WHEREAS, the volume of public information requests made to entities of the three branches of government and to local governments is increasing; and

WHEREAS, a review of the process through which state government and local governments are fulfilling public information requests is in order.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to:

(1)        review the processes through which the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the state and local governments are fulfilling public information requests; and

(2)        determine whether statutory changes are needed to ensure that public information requests are handled efficiently by state and local governments.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2024.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 69th Legislature.