Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to the appointment and role of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in Montana. The bill mandates that the Clerk be appointed by a majority of the Supreme Court justices, rather than being elected by the public. Additionally, the Clerk will serve at the pleasure of the Court, eliminating the previous provision that allowed the Clerk to appoint a Deputy Clerk. The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the removal of the Clerk from the list of elected officials whose salaries are determined by a salary survey and the repeal of the section regarding the Deputy Clerk.

Furthermore, the bill repeals Section 3-2-406, which pertained to the Deputy Clerk, and introduces new provisions regarding the effective date and applicability of the changes. The new appointment process for the Clerk of the Supreme Court will take effect on January 6, 2031, and will apply to any vacancies occurring after the current officeholder's term ends. The bill aims to streamline the administrative structure of the Supreme Court and enhance the accountability of the Clerk's position.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504
SB0332_1(1): 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504
SB0332_1(2): 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504
SB0332_1: 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504