The bill mandates a one-time performance audit of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, to be conducted by the legislative auditor. The audit will focus on understanding the funding sources for the office, including the amount received from each source and how funds have been spent over the past decade. Additionally, it will analyze the office's budgets, costs, and functions over time, taking into account various financial, operational, and technological risks. The judicial branch is responsible for covering the full cost of the audit, which must be completed and presented to the legislative audit committee by December 15, 2026.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 5-13-102 of the Montana Code Annotated to include "entities created by an order of or subject to supervision by the Montana supreme court" in the definition of "state agency." This change expands the scope of entities that fall under the legislative audit committee's oversight, ensuring that the Office of Disciplinary Counsel is included in the auditing process.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 5-13-102
SB0014_1: 5-13-102
SB0014_1(1): 5-13-102