Senate Bill No. introduced by D. Loge aims to revise civil penalties under the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act of 1975. The bill proposes to remove the cap on the maximum civil penalty that can be imposed for violations, allowing for potentially higher penalties. Additionally, it provides an exception for individuals engaging in allowable forest practices within stream management zones, ensuring they are not penalized under this section. The bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 3-10-601 and 75-7-123, to reflect these changes.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that a fine or civil penalty cannot be imposed against individuals conducting forest practices permitted under Title 77, Chapter 5, Part 3. It also establishes that each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation, and it allows conservation districts to work with violators to resolve penalties before enforcement actions are initiated. The bill includes provisions for the restoration of damaged streams and specifies that any recovered funds from penalties must be deposited into district funds. Importantly, the act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-7-123
SB0472_1(1): 75-7-123
SB0472_1(2): 75-7-123
SB0472_1(3): 75-7-123
SB0472_1: 75-7-123
SB0472_2(1): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(2): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(3): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(4): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(5): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(6): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(7): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(8): 75-7-123
SB0472_2(9): 75-7-123
SB0472_2: 75-7-123
SB0472_3(1): 3-10-601, 75-7-123
SB0472_3(2): 3-10-601, 75-7-123
SB0472_3(3): 3-10-601, 75-7-123
SB0472_3(4): 3-10-601, 75-7-123
SB0472_3: 3-10-601, 75-7-123