House Bill No. introduced by S. Klakken and others aims to revise laws related to perjury and false swearing in Montana. The bill mandates the investigation of credible allegations of perjury and false swearing by an agency other than the judiciary. It amends the penalties for these offenses, establishing mandatory minimum sentences. For perjury, the bill stipulates imprisonment in state prison for a term of not less than six months and up to ten years, along with a potential fine of up to $50,000. For false swearing, the punishment includes imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not less than 30 days and up to 90 days, with fines ranging from $500 to $1,500.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that falsification is considered material if it could affect the outcome of a proceeding, and it removes certain defenses related to the irregularity of the oath or affirmation. It also allows for prosecution based on inconsistent statements made under oath without needing to prove which statement was false. The revisions aim to strengthen the legal framework surrounding perjury and false swearing, ensuring that credible allegations are taken seriously and investigated appropriately.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1(1): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1(2): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1(3): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1(4): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1(5): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_1: 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(1): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(10): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(2): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(3): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(4): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(5): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(6): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(7): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(8): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2(9): 45-7-201, 45-7-202
HB0569_2: 45-7-201, 45-7-202