2017-2018 Legislative Council

The Legislative Council is a statutory, bipartisan, legislative committee established in 1957. The Council is composed of the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the Minority leaders of each chamber, and four members chosen by the Speaker of the House,and four members chosen by the Senate Committee on Committees, respectively two from the majority party and two from the minority party in each chamber.

It provides ongoing leadership, direction, and foresight for the efficient operation and improvement of the Legislative Branch. It is the administrative committee for the Legislative Services Division and the administrative committee that submits the Legislative Branch budget each session.

Agenda
MinutesLog
Proposed Meeting Dates - Updated 8/19
2019-2020 Montana Legislature Interim Committee Overview
Cumulative Summary of Strategic Planning Session Topics Since 2003
Senate Bill No. 310 Work Plan
Proposed "Legislative Week" Schedule
HB 715 First Draft (on LFC agenda 9/16-17) for "Legislative Week"

Summary of Strategic Planning Retreat: August 26, 2018, and August 27, 2018

Legislative Council Meeting; 8:30 a.m., Room 137

Agenda - Updated 5/28
May 29, 2019 Minutes (posted 6/10/19)
Presiding Officer History
House Chamber Chair Specifications
Proposed 2019 MCA Prices
Program 20 -- Legislative Services Division Operating Plan
Program 21 -- Interim Committees and Activities Operating Plan
- FY 20-21 Biennium Budget Program Totals
- FY 20-21 Biennium Activity Totals
Proposed Changes to “Rules, Procedures, and Guidelines for Interim Committees”
Legislative Council: Commonly-Asked Questions
Suggested Meeting Dates: 2019-2020
Interim Committee Studies

Joint meeting with Legislative Finance Committee; 11 a.m., Room 317

Audio/ Video
May 29, 2019

April 23 Agenda
April 23, 2019 Minutes
- NCSL Proposed Appointments
- CSG Proposed Appointments
April 25 Agenda
April 25, 2019 Minutes
- 5-5-211, MCA. Appointment to Interim Committees
- Budget information regarding add’l appointments

Meeting Materials

Proposed amendments to “Policy of the Montana Legislature Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment (for Legislators)"
Proposed amendment to Joint Rule 10-85

Agenda

Minutes Log

Council legislation:

Code Commissioner Bill and Report — LC 9090 and Report
Revise constituent services account administration — LC0209
Revise method of setting legislator compensation — LC0210
Revise meal reimbursement for public employees — LC 211 update
Bill draft concept regarding legal publications — LC7272

Budget Item – Submitted Legislative Branch Budget Overview for 2020-21 Biennium

Meeting Materials

Joint Rules
Senate Rules
House Rules
Potential Rule Changes
Letter regarding House Health and Human Services Committee
Testimony on anti-discrimination, anti-harassment policy

Rules Subcommittee - August 22, 2018

Agenda
Minute Log
Draft Joint Rules with Proposed Amendments
Draft House Rules with Proposed Amendments
Draft Senate Rules

Legislative Council - August 23, 2018

Agenda
Minutes Log
Committee Statistics
OBPP Bill Draft Requests
Policy of the Montana Legislature Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment -- Legislators
Information Technology Plan
2020-21 Budget documents
- Legislative Services Division (program 20)
- Interim Committees & Activities (program 21)
- Legislative Branch, including Legislative Audit and Fiscal Divisions
Session Proceedings Costs
Session Staff Pay Matrix
Annotations Pricing Memo
Draft bill on Constituent Services Funds
Draft bill on Third-party Compensation-Setting Method for Legislators
Records Management Policy

Agenda
Minutes Logs: May 23, 2018 May 24, 2018
Select Committee Funding Memo
2019 Session planning
- Orientation & training proposed optional schedule
- Proposed 2019 Legislative Calendar - tentative
- Calendar Analysis & Chart
Legislator compensation
- Subcommittee recommendations
  - Constituent services account changes - DRAFT Bill
  - Third-party method recommendation
  - Difficulty in Setting Legislator Pay: report, including compensation commissions. December 2017
  - MACo Memo on Meal Reimbursement
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training & Policies
- Subcommittee recommendation - DRAFT Policy
Department of Military Affairs Sale of Sidney Armory to Richland County

Agenda (updated 3/12)
Minutes Log: March 14, 2018; March 15, 2018
Changing the Size of the Legislature - report and map
Constituent Services Account - report, history of legislator compensation, constituent services brochure
Legislator Email Solution Proposal
Session Systems Replacement - PowerPoint
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Policies
Memo from Todd Everts on Harassment Policy Questions
Remote Testimony - PowerPoint from last interim

Location: Plant Biosciences Building, Room 108, MSU Campus, Bozeman
Times:
- 10:30 - Noon: includes Public Comment
- 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: includes Public Comment
- 6:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Dedicated to Public Comment
Agenda
Minutes Log (with exhibits linked)
E-mail Records Training
- Email Guidelines for Legislators Brochure
- Legislator Website: Public Records and Managing Email
- Powerpoint Presentation for Training
- Public Documents Checklist
Legislator Compensation
- Difficulty in Setting Legislator Pay: report on Montana and other states, including compensation commissions. December 2017
- Changing the Size of the Legislature: Research, Legal opinions, and Budget Analysis (posted 12/7))
- History of Legislator Salaries and Per Diem - updated February 2017
- Related past materials:
  - SB 141 (2017) - Compensation Commission
  - State Wage and Benefit Memo & Memo from Barb Wagner, State Economist (from 8/16 meeting)
  - LC261 (2016) - Revising the amount of legislator compensation using state weekly wage
- Other materials:
- - Overview of Montana State & Legislator Pay Information - Broadband comparison to Executive Branch (5/16 meeting)
  - Highlights from the Legislator Survey (March 2014). (Part I is on Legislator Compensation and Salaries) (11/15 meeting)
  - A Study of Other Legislators: Legislator Compensation (April 2014). (11/15 meeting)
  - CSG (NCSL) certain states excerpted table 3.9: Legislative Compensation and Living Expense Allowances During Session
  - CSG (NCSL) certain states excerpted table 3.10: Legislative Compensation: Other Payments and Benefits
  - FiveThirtyEight.com Article, "How Much Should State Legislators Get Paid?" (April 7, 2016)
  - NCSL State Legislatures Article, "Pay Problem" (Jan 2011)
- Information on Sexual Harassment
  - A Guide for Montana Legislators
  - A Guide for Montana House and Senate Employees
  - Excerpt from Montana Legislative Branch Administrative Manual (for permanent employees)