House Bill No. introduced by a group of legislators 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 existing laws to establish stricter penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of perjury and false swearing. Specifically, the punishment for perjury is revised to imprisonment in state prison for a term of not less than six months and not more than ten years, along with a potential fine of up to $50,000. For false swearing, the bill sets a punishment of imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days, with fines ranging from $500 to $1,500.

The bill also clarifies that falsification is considered material if it could have influenced the outcome of a proceeding, regardless of its admissibility under evidence rules. It removes certain defenses related to the irregularity of the oath or affirmation and the competency of the declarant. Additionally, it allows for prosecution based on inconsistent statements made under oath without needing to prove which statement was false, as long as one of them is proven to be untrue. Overall, the bill seeks 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(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: 45-7-201, 45-7-202