This bill revises existing laws concerning the release of wildlife location data and telemetry frequencies by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in Montana. It establishes that, generally, the department cannot release data related to hunted or trapped animals, with specific exceptions. Wildlife location data can be released one year after the completion of a study that includes a report, or one year after the data is collected if it is not part of a study. Additionally, the department may share this data for environmental permitting activities and with project partners and government agencies through data-sharing agreements.

The bill also amends Section 2-6-1003 of the Montana Code Annotated, removing the Montana historical society exception and adding new exceptions related to the release of wildlife location data. It specifies that the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, along with any parties involved in data-sharing agreements, are prohibited from releasing wildlife location data or telemetry frequencies of hunted or trapped animals, except as outlined in the new provisions. This aims to enhance the protection of sensitive wildlife data while allowing for certain controlled disclosures.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(1): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(2): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(3): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(4): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(5): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(6): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1(7): 2-6-1003
HB0264_1: 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(1): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(10): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(11): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(12): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(2): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(3): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(4): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(5): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(6): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(7): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(8): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2(9): 2-6-1003
HB0264_2: 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(1): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(2): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(3): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(4): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(5): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(6): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(7): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(8): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3(9): 2-6-1003
HB0264_3: 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(1): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(2): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(3): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(4): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(5): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X(6): 2-6-1003
HB0264_X: 2-6-1003