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 include new provisions that allow the commission to hire its own personnel, indicating that certain administrative controls do not apply to it. The commission will consist of five members, including district court judges, an attorney, and two non-attorney citizens, all appointed and confirmed through specified legislative processes.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes that the Judicial Standards Commission will operate independently of the Department of Justice, without requiring approval or control from the department. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025. This restructuring aims to enhance the commission's autonomy while still providing it with necessary administrative support.

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(6): 3-1-1101
HB0035_1: 3-1-1101