Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to revise the offense of violating privacy in communications by introducing an exception for individuals who record conversations with elected or appointed public officials or public employees while they are performing their official duties. The bill amends Section 45-8-213 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify that the prohibition against recording conversations without the knowledge of all parties does not apply in these specific circumstances. This change aims to enhance transparency and accountability in government by allowing citizens to document interactions with public officials.

In addition to the new exception, the bill retains existing provisions that outline other scenarios where the privacy violation statute does not apply, such as recordings made at public meetings or with prior warning given to one party. The bill also maintains the penalties for violating privacy in communications, which include fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders. Overall, this legislation seeks to balance the protection of individual privacy rights with the public's right to monitor and engage with government officials.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-8-213
SB0388_1: 45-8-213