Law and Justice Interim Committee

Law and Justice Holds its First Meeting of the 2017-18 Interim

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on June 19, 2017


Law and Justice Interim Committee to Meet

The Law and Justice Interim Committee meets June 28 in room 137 of the State Capitol. The meeting will start at 10 a.m., and it is the first meeting of the committee for the 2017-2018 interim.

As part of this organizational meeting, the committee will elect officers, hear introductions from staff of several agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction, and discuss and revise study and work plans for the interim. The Legislative Council assigned two studies to the LJIC. House Joint Resolution 6 requests a study of methamphetamine use and illegal opioid abuse in the state. Senate Joint Resolution 25 requests a study of the extent of the use of solitary confinement in Montana.

The LJIC also has several duties assigned to it by law, including administrative rule review, draft legislation review, program evaluation, and monitoring functions of the agencies under its oversight and any entities attached to those agencies. The LJIC is also assigned to liaise with the Judicial Branch. Agencies and entities for which the LJIC provides oversight include:

  • The Department of Corrections
  • The Department of Justice
  • The Office of the State Public Defender
  • The Board of Crime Control
  • The Board of Pardons and Parole
  • The Public Safety Officers Standards and Training Council (POST)

Senate members appointed to the committee are Jen Gross, D-Billings; Margaret “Margie” MacDonald, D-Billings; Keith Regier, R-Kalispell; Scott Sales, R-Bozeman; Diane Sands, D-Missoula; and Nels Swandal, R-Wilsall. House members appointed to the committee are Jessica Karjala, D-Billings; George Kipp III, D-Heart Butte; Ryan Lynch, D-Butte; Jimmy Patelis, R-Billings; Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls; and Barry Usher, R-Billings.

The meeting will be streamed live at www.leg.mt.gov and will be broadcast on Television Montana (TVMT). Please check your local channel listings to find TVMT in your area.

For more information about the meeting, including a full agenda and meeting materials, visit the committee’s website www.leg.mt.gov/ljic or contact Rachel Weiss, committee staff.