This bill proposes the transfer of the Workers' Compensation Judge from the Department of Labor and Industry to the Judicial Branch, establishing a new Workers' Compensation Court overseen by the Montana Supreme Court. It includes provisions for the governor to appoint the Workers' Compensation Judge for a six-year term, with qualifications akin to those of district court judges. To support the court's operations, a Workers' Compensation Court Fund will be created, receiving an annual transfer of $500,000 from the Workers' Compensation Administration Fund. The bill also ensures that current judges and employees retain their rights and benefits during the transition, allowing the Workers' Compensation Judge to opt to remain in the public employees' retirement system until October 1, 2025.

Additionally, the bill introduces new sections regarding the retirement plan election for workers' compensation judges and mandates the renumbering and codification of certain sections within the Montana Code Annotated. Active members of the public employees' retirement system who are workers' compensation judges will have the option to remain under that system by notifying the public employees' retirement board by the specified date. The bill includes a saving clause to protect rights and duties that matured, penalties incurred, or proceedings begun before the act's effective date of July 1, 2025, aiming to streamline retirement options for judges and clarify the organization of relevant legal codes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-15-1707, 19-5-301, 39-71-201
HB0516_1(1): 2-15-1707, 19-5-301, 39-71-201
HB0516_1: 2-15-1707, 19-5-301, 39-71-201