1-11-301. Publication and sale of Montana Code Annotated -- free distribution. (1) The legislative council, with the advice of the code commissioner, shall decide on the quantity, quality, style, format, and grade of all publications prior to having the code commissioner call for bids for the printing and binding and contract for their publication. The code commissioner shall follow the requirements of state law relating to contracts and bids, except as provided in this section.

(2) The methods of sale to the public of the Montana Code Annotated and supplements or other subsequent and ancillary publications may be included as an alternative specification and bid and as a part of a contract to be let by bids by the code commissioner.

(3) The sales price to the public of all Montana Code Annotated material must be fixed by the legislative council but may not exceed the cost price plus 25%. All revenue generated from the sale of the Montana Code Annotated or ancillary publications must be deposited in the state special revenue fund. Appropriations from the fund may be made for the use of the office and facilities of the legislative council under this chapter.

(4) Sets of the Montana Code Annotated purchased by the state, Montana local governmental agencies that are supported by public funds, and nonprofit organizations may not exceed the cost price of the sets plus 5%.

(5) (a) One copy of the Montana Code Annotated and supplements, and other subsequent and ancillary publications except annotations, must be provided at no cost to each library designated as a depository library as defined in 22-1-211.

(b) The state law library in Helena must be provided with four copies of the Montana Code Annotated and supplements, including annotations and other subsequent and ancillary publications.

(c) The legislative council shall include in the cost price of the code the cost of providing the copies under this subsection.