House Bill No. introduced by B. Mercer mandates that the Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections, and the Judicial Branch collaborate to determine the most efficient method for providing criminal history information to the Criminal Justice Data Warehouse. If these entities cannot reach a consensus by October 1, 2025, the Department of Corrections will be required to supply the necessary criminal history information. The bill also includes an appropriation of $2,000 each for the Department of Corrections, the Department of Justice, and the Judicial Branch for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, to facilitate this collaboration.

The bill amends Section 44-7-126 of the Montana Code Annotated, specifically inserting provisions that require the aforementioned departments to confer and collaborate on the criminal history information of offenders convicted in district court over the past five fiscal years and for all offenders convicted after the bill's effective date. Additionally, it ensures that the names of convicted offenders are identifiable with the provided criminal history information. This legislative effort aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data management within the criminal justice system.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 44-7-126
HB0890_1(1): 44-7-126
HB0890_1(2): 44-7-126
HB0890_1(3): 44-7-126
HB0890_1(4): 44-7-126
HB0890_1(5): 44-7-126
HB0890_1: 44-7-126