_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN INTERIM SELECT COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE LEGISLATURE'S IMPEACHMENT PROCESS; PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND LEGISLATION TO THE 69TH LEGISLATURE; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; establishing reporting requirements; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and A TERMINATION DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Interim select committee on impeachment process. (1) There is an interim select committee on the impeachment process.

(2)        The select committee consists of:

(a)        four members of the house of representatives selected by the speaker of the house of representatives, including three from the majority party and one from the minority party; and

(b)        three members of the senate selected by the president of the senate, including two from the majority party and one from the minority party.

(3)        The speaker shall select the presiding officer of the select committee from the house members from the majority party. The presiding officer shall select the vice presiding officer.

(4)        The select committee shall:

(a)        study the existing and historical impeachment process and statutory framework in the state;

(b)        evaluate other state and congressional impeachment processes;

(c)        evaluate the adequacy of the legislature's statutory investigative powers;

(d)        conduct a fiscal analysis of potential costs associated with an impeachment proceeding;

(e)        define and draft separate forms and processes for the impeachment process in the senate; and

(f)         investigate any other issues associated with the impeachment process that the select committee considers necessary.

(5)        The select committee shall report the results of its study to the 69th regular session of the legislature. The select committee may recommend legislation and legislative rule changes regarding the impeachment process for introduction in the 69th regular session of the legislature.

(6)        The special counsel, pursuant to 5-5-110, and exempt personal legislative leadership staff, pursuant to 2-18-104, shall provide staff assistance to the select committee.

(7)        The legislative services division shall provide the select committee with:

(a)        secretarial and remote meeting and recording support;

(b)        bill drafting and legislative rule drafting services; and

(c)        legal review services as needed.

(8)        The select committee may meet in person on a quarterly basis during the interim. The select committee may meet remotely on a monthly basis during the interim.

(9)        Members of the select committee must be compensated as provided in 5-2-302.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $66,327 from the general fund to the legislative services division for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, to support the select committee provided for in [section 1].

(2)        Money from the appropriation that is not spent during the biennium must revert to the general fund.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Termination. [Section 1] terminates June 30, 2025.