House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to allocate the Judicial Standards Commission to the Department of Justice for administrative purposes while ensuring its independence. 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, exempting it from certain administrative controls outlined in 2-15-121(2)(d). The commission will consist of five members, including two district court judges, one attorney with at least ten years of practice in Montana, and two non-attorney citizens, all appointed and confirmed as specified.

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.

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