Montana State Legislature

Department of Labor & Industry

Laurie Esau, Commissioner
Appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate

The Department of Labor & Industry is comprised of four main divisions:

Business Standards Division: Building Codes, Permits, Weights and Measures, Professional Licensing, and Boards
Employment Relations: Worker's Compensation, Human Rights, Workplace Safety and Health, Wage and Hour, Prevailing Wages, and Public Sector Collective Bargaining
Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Fraudulent Claims, Pay and File Taxes, Employer Resources, and Quarterly Reports
Workforce Services: Job Services, Training, Skill Development, Jobs for Montana Graduates, Montana Registered Apprenticeship, Montana Works, Labor Market Information

37 professional and occupational licensing boards (most under Title 37)
Board of Personnel Appeals, established under 2-15-1705, MCA
The Commission for Human Rights, established under 2-15-1706, MCA
The Office of Workers' Compensation Judge, established under 2-15-1707, MCA
The State Workforce Innovation Board, established under 53-2-1203, MCA, in conjunction with federal law
The Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, established under 2-15-1704, MCA

2019 Financial Compliance Audit (19-15), 3 recommendations, all fully implemented
The Montana Prescription Drug Registry (18DP-01), 9 recommendations; Follow-up (21SP-01), 5 recommendations implemented, 4 in-process.

9/1/2022: Medical marijuana BOME annual report; Board of Medical Examiners (37-3-203, MCA)
9/1/2022: Status of special revenue account for death certificate fees; Board of Funeral Services (37-19-204, MCA)
9/1/2022: Unemployment Insurance Program Integrity Act (39-51-706, MCA)
9/1/2022: Drug Registry Annual Report; Board of Pharmacy (37-7-1514, MCA)
9/1/2022: Report on joint meetings held between occupational licensing boards (37-1-107, MCA)
9/1/2023: Medical practitioner drug dispensing (one time report); Board of Pharmacy (SB374, 2021)

9/1/2022: Apprenticeship & Training Annual Report (39-6-101, MCA)
9/1/2022: Unemployment benefits for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking (39-51-2111, MCA)

September 2022:

The committee authorized the following agency proposed legislation:

Board of Behavioral Health chapter consolidation
Consistency in appointments, qualifications, and terms for all boards and board members
Licensing enforcement
Title 37 reform
Incumbent worker training program updates
Real estate appraisers
UI theft and administrative penalties
Weights and measures rulemaking and fund transfers
Elimination of licensure for medication aides

February 2022:

November 2021: