House Bill No. introduced by F. Nave, at the request of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform, proposes to allocate the Judicial Standards Commission to the Department of Justice for administrative purposes. The bill amends Section 3-1-1101 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the commission's structure, which consists of five members, including district court judges, an attorney, and two non-attorney citizens. The bill specifies that while the commission is allocated to the Department of Justice, it retains the authority to hire its own personnel and operates independently without the department's approval or control.

Additionally, the bill establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, for the proposed changes. The amendments aim to enhance the operational framework of the Judicial Standards Commission while ensuring its independence in carrying out its functions.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-1-1101
HB0035_1(1): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1(2): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1(3): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1(4): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1(5): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1: 3-1-1101