Montana Historical Society
Archives
LR 55
Montana.
Legislature.
Montana Legislature (55th: 1997) records
1996-1997
28.8 linear feet of shelf space
Collection contains records (1996-1997) of the 55th Montana
Legislature, including minutes of Joint, Conference, and Free conference committees; House
and Senate standing and select committees; bills and resolutions; journal and status
reports; and miscellany. The researcher should note that audio cassette hearings are only
available for Joint committees and House standing committees. [OVERSIZE MATERIAL: oversize box, map
case, and multimedia collection MM 17 and 18].
53:5-3, 33:2-5 (Oversize
Box), Map Case, Multi-Media Cabinet
English
The Montana State Legislature is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The Constitution of Montana limits the size of the Senate to no fewer than
40 and no more than 50 members and the size of the House of Representatives to no fewer than
80 and no more than 100 members. Each house is responsible for choosing its officers,
creating committees and establishing its own rules. The Montana Legislature meets for 90
days every odd numbered year, beginning the first Monday in January, or the following
Wednesday if the first Monday is New Years Day. The first State Legislature convened on
November 23, 1889, fifteen days after Montana became a state. Each following Legislature has
been numbered sequentially.
The 55th Montana Legislature met from January 6th to April 23rd, 1997. The leaders of the
Senate were Gary Aklestad (R-President), Bruce Crippen (R-President Pro Tempore), John Harp
(R-Majority Leader), and Mike Halligan (D-Minority Leader). The leaders of the House were
John Mercer (R-Speaker), Marian Hanson (R-Speaker Pro Tempore), Larry Grinde (R-Majority
Leader), and Vicki Cocchiarella (D-Minority Leader).
Sources:The Constitution of
the State of Montana as adopted by the Constitutional Convention March 22, 1972, and as
ratified by the people, June 6, 1972, referendum no. 68, "A GUIDE TO THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE," The
Montana Legislature,; “Montana Legislative
Leadership 1889 – Present”.
These records consist of minutes of Joint, Conference, and Free Conference committees;
House and Senate standing and select committees; bills and resolutions; and journal and
status reports. The collection also contains miscellany material including a bill subject
index, memorial tributes, and a sponsor list.
The collection is organized into these four series, House and Senate Joint Committees,
House of Representatives, Senate, and Miscellany.
The series House and Senate Joint Committees is organized into these five subseries, Joint
Subcommittee Minutes (arranged alphabetically by committee name and thereunder
chronologically), Joint Committee Minutes (arranged alphabetically by committee name and
thereunder chronologically), Joint Select Committee Minutes (arranged alphabetically by
committee name and thereunder chronologically), Conference Committee Minutes (arranged
numerically by House and then Senate bill number), and Free Conference Committee Minutes
(arranged numerically by House and then Senate bill number).
The series House of Representatives is organized into these seven subseries, House Standing
Committee Minutes (arranged alphabetically by committee name and thereunder
chronologically), House Select Committee Minutes (arranged alphabetically by committee name
and thereunder chronologically), House Bills (arranged numerically by bill number), House
Joint Resolutions (arranged numerically by bill number), House Resolutions (arranged
numerically by bill number), House Bill Status Reports (arranged chronologically), and House
Journals (arranged chronologically).
The series Senate is organized into these six subseries, Senate Standing Committee Minutes
(arranged alphabetically by committee name and thereunder chronologically), Senate Bills
(arranged numerically by bill number), Senate Joint Resolutions (arranged numerically by
bill number), Senate Resolutions (arranged numerically by bill number), Senate Bill Status
Reports (arranged chronologically), and Senate Journals (arranged chronologically).
Collection is open for research.
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and
makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission
must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not
necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases,
permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright
owners.
[item description and date]. Montana Legislature (55th: 1997) records, 1996-1997.
Legislative Records 55. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center.
Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Connie Geiger processed the collection in 1997.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society
Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places
should search under these terms.
Bills, Legislative--Montana.
Legislative
bodies--Committees--Montana.
Montana--Politics and government.
Montana
Detailed Description of the Collection
House and Senate Joint Committees
Joint Subcommittee Minutes
1 / 1-17
Appropriations: Education and Cultural Resources
[folder 1 includes subject index; folder 17 includes committee reference
material]
1997 January 7 - February
20
1 / 18-28
Appropriations: General Government [folder 18
includes subject index]
1997 January 7 - February
10
2 / 1-4
Appropriations: General Government [exhibits from
February 12, 14, and 17 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 1]
1997 February 11-19
2 / 5-26
Appropriations: Human Services and Aging
1997 January 7 - March 5
2 / 27-30
Appropriations: Institutions
1997 January 7-24
3 / 1-10
Appropriations: Institutions
1997 January 27 - February
20
3 / 11-24
Appropriations: Long-Range Planning [includes
subject index; exhibits from January 7, 9, and 23 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see
oversize box, folder 1]
1997 January 7-29
4 / 1-6
Appropriations: Long-Range Planning [exhibits from
February 5 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 1]
1997 Jan 30 - February 6
4 / 7
Appropriations: Long-Range Planning, WITH Joint
Subcommittee on Natural Resources
1997 February 10
4 / 8-15
Appropriations: Long-Range Planning [exhibits from
February 11, 17 and 19 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 1]
1997 February 11-20
4 / 16-25
Appropriations: Natural Resources [exhibits from
January 30 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 1]
1997 January 7-31
5 / 1-8
Appropriations: Natural Resources [see also Joint
Long-Range Planning, February 10, 1997]
1997 February 3-20
Joint Committee Minutes
5 / 9-10
Rules
1996 December 12, 1997 January
13
Joint Select Committee Minutes
5 / 11
Committee to Discuss Board of Regents / Land Board
Issues
1997 February 6
5 / 12-30
Corrections [includes bill index; and minutes from
House Select Committee on Corrections, and Juvenile Justice Subcommittee]
1997 January 8 - March10
Conference Committee Minutes
5 / 31
HB 27 (re prohibiting interference with medical
communications by persons providing health care services in a managed care setting)
1997 April 10
5 / 32
HB 99 (re revising traffic regulations in a highway
construction area)
1997 April 15
5 / 33
HB 117 (re credit disability insurance requirements
for credit card indebtedness)
1997 April 14
5 / 34
HB 135 (re revising laws governing the Board of
Pardons and Parole)
1997 April 16
5 / 35
HB 345 (re adopting the Workforce Drug and Alcohol
Testing Act)
1997 April 16
5 / 36
HB 346 (re revising mandatory motor vehicle
insurance laws) [for exhibit materials see Free Conference Committee minutes]
1997 April 14
5 / 37
HB 389 (re providing greater public participation
in agency rulemaking) [for exhibit materials see Free Conference Committee minutes]
1997 April 14
5 / 38
HB 584 (re creating an orphan share account for
Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act sites)
1997 April 18
5 / 39
SB 44 (re clarifying and limiting liability of
motor vehicle liability insurers)
1997 April 15, 17
5 / 40
SB 71 (re revising the duties of elected school
officials)
1997 April 16
5 / 41
SB 99 (re revising juvenile justice laws)
1997 April 10
5 / 42
SB 207 (re authorizing Board of Investments to
obligate funds for acquiring property or constructing school facilities)
1997 April 16
5 / 43
SB 251 (re workers' compensation for students)
1997 April 16
5 / 44
SB 256 (re creating the offence of assault on a
peace officer or judicial officer)
1997 April 2
5 / 45
SB 272 (re extending inheritance tax exemption for
stepchildren)
1997 April 17, 19
5 / 46
SB 283 (re requiring social workers to interview
parents in child abuse and neglect cases)
1997 April 16
5 / 47
SB 296 (re allowing members of the teachers'
retirement system to qualify for Montana University System Extension Service)
1997 April 14
5 / 48
SB 339 (re clarifying review of certain parcel
divisions)
1997 April 14, 17
5 / 49
SB 367 (re establishing the Reasonable Spending for
Responsive Government Act)
1997 April 22-23
5 / 50
SB 381 (re excluding of certain provisions from
group and individual uniform health benefit plans)
1997 April 15
Free Conference Committee Minutes
6 / 1-4
HB 2 (re appropriations to state agencies)
1997 April 16-23
6 / 5
HB 5 (re appropriations for capital projects)
1997 April 19
6 / 6
HB 13 (re directing the Department of
Administration to develop an alternative compensation system for state employees)
1997 April 18-19
6 / 7
HB 14 (re the issuance of general obligation bonds)
1997 April 18
6 / 8
HB 17 (re tuition waivers pursuant to the Montana
National Guard Education Benefit Program)
1997 April 17
6 / 9
HB 78 (re revising laws governing liquor licenses
and license administration)
1997 April 11
6 / 10
HB 83 (re regulation of private correctional
facilities)
1997 April 16
6 / 11
HB 102 (re state correctional and sentencing
policy)
1997 April 16
6 / 12
HB 122 (re filing fee requirements of prisoners
filing complaints in civil proceedings)
1997 April 14-17
6 / 13
HB 131 (re revising state insurance laws)
1997 April 11
6 / 14
HB 164 (re revising occupational licensing laws)
1997 April 16
6 / 15
HB 188 (re the issuance of general obligation
bonds)
1997 April 17
6 / 16
HB 252 (re revising laws governing contractors and
independent contractors)
1997 April 18
6 / 17
HB 285 (re revising membership of the Flathead
Basin Commission)
1997 April 14
6 / 18
HB 339 (re changing the penalties for drunk
driving)
1997 April 15
6 / 19
HB 346 (re revising mandatory motor vehicle
insurance laws)
1997 April 16
6 / 20
HB 369 (re revising local government law)
1997 April 16
6 / 21
HB 388 (re defining and revising building code law
terms)
1997 April 16
6 / 22
HB 389 (re providing greater public participation
in agency rulemaking)
1997 April 16
6 / 23
HB 398 (re revising laws governing lease with
option to purchase for state buildings)
1997 April 17
6 / 24
HB 517 (re requiring prior authorization of
employees and/or members before withholdings are diverted for political purposes)
1997 April 16
6 / 25
HB 547 (re requiring proceeds from sale of wild
game meat obtained illegally be appropriated to the Montana Food Bank Network via
Department of Public Health and Human Services)
1997 April 16
6 / 26
HB 578 (re eliminating the Montana Board of Science
and Technology Development)
1997 April 19
6 / 27
SB 48 (re revising the Youth Court Act)
1997 April 7
6 / 28
SB 57 (re revising the classification, valuation,
and taxation of motor vehicles)
1997 April 18
6 / 29
SB 85 (re revising the laws pertaining to motor
vehicle equipment)
1997 April 14
6 / 30-31
SB 195 (re phasing in property reappraisal cycle)
1997 April 12, 14-17
6 / 32
SB 374 (re implementing child support provisions of
the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act)
1997 April 18, 21-23
House of Representatives
House Standing Committee Minutes
6 / 33-40
Agriculture
1997 January 7 - March 27
6 / 41-50
Appropriations [see also Senate Finance and Claims
Committee, January 9, 1997]
1997 January 7 - February
19
7 / 1-11
Appropriations
1997 March 4- April 11
7 / 12-13
Appropriations: committee resource materials -
"House Bill 2 Narrative"
1997
7 / 14-28
Business and Labor [includes minutes of
Subcommittee on Occupational and Professional Licensing; and exhibits from January
28 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 2]
1997 January 8 - February
4
8 / 1-21
Business and Labor [exhibits from March 6 include
OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 2]
1997 February 5 - March 6
9 / 1-13
Business and Labor
1997 March 7 - April 7
9 / 14-25
Education [folder 14 includes bill index]
1997 January 10 - March
24
9 / 26-29
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks [folder 26 includes bill
index]
1997 January 7-30
10 / 1-10
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
1997 February 4 - April 8
10 / 11-29
Human Services [see also Senate Public Health,
Welfare and Safety, January 8, 1997]
1997 January 10 - April
23
11 / 1-29
Judiciary [folder 1 includes bill index; exhibits
from February 4 include MULTIMEDIA: see MM 17]
1997 January 7 - March 14
12 / 1-11
Judiciary [includes Subcommittee minutes from April
10, 11, and 14]
1997 March 20 - April 14
12 / 12-21
Local Government [folder 12 includes bill index]
1997 January 14 - April 8
12 / 22-24
Natural Resources [folder 22 includes bill index]
1997 January 8-20
12 / 25
Natural Resources [includes Senate Natural
Resources committee]
1997 January 21
12 / 26-31
Natural Resources [exhibits for February 10
includes OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see map case]
1997 January 22 - February
10
13 / 1-5
Natural Resources [includes Subcommittee minutes
from February 13 and 19]
1997 February 12 - March
5
13 / 6
Natural Resources [exhibits from March 10 include
OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 2]
1997 March 7, 10
13 / 7-10
Natural Resources [includes Subcommittee minutes
from April 2 re SB 315; for exhibit no. 2 from April 2 see exhibit no.11 of Senate
Natural Resources, February 17]
1997 March 12 - April 4
13 / 11-12
Rules [folder 11 includes bill index]
1997 February 10, March
14
13 / 13-33
State Administration [folder 13 includes bill
index; includes Subcommittee minutes for January 30 and February 4, 12, and 13]
1997 January 8 - March 21
14 / 1-2
State Administration
1997 March 27, April 9
14 / 3-6
State/Federal Relations [folder 3 includes bill
index]
1997 January 28 - March 6
14 / 7-10
Taxation [folder 7 includes bill index]
1997 January 7-15
14 / 11
Taxation WITH Senate Taxation Committee
1997 January 16
14 / 12-16
Taxation
1997 January 17-28
14 / 17
Taxation [includes Senate Taxation
committee]
1997 January 29
14 / 18-38
Taxation [for exhibit nos.7 from March 20 see House
Business and Labor exhibits nos. 10 and 11 from March 6]
1997 January 30 - March
25
15 / 1-7
Taxation
1997 March 27- April 19
15 / 8-19
Transportation [folder 8 includes bill index]
1997 January 8- March 24
House Select Committee Minutes
Corrections [SEE Joint Select Committee on
Corrections]
House Bills
15 / 20-31
Bill nos. 1-110
1997
16 / 1-19
Bill nos. 111-375
1997
17 / 1-16
Bill nos. 376-616
1997
House Joint Resolutions
17 / 17
Bill nos. 1-33
1997
House Resolutions
17 / 18
Bill no. 1
1997
House Bill Status Reports
17 / 19-22
1st-75th Legislative Day
1997 January 2 - April 9
18 / 1
76th-88th Legislative Day
1997 April 10-24
House Journals
18 / 2-7
1st-87th Legislative Day
1997 January 6 - April 24
Senate
Senate Standing Committee Minutes
18 / 8-25
Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation [exhibits
from February 10 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folders 3 and 4]
1997 January 10 - March 19
19 / 1-32
Business and Industry [exhibits from March 13
include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 5]
1997 January 7 - April 10
19 / 33
Committee on Committees
1997 March 7
19 / 34-41
Education and Cultural Resources
1997 January 8 - February
10
20 / 1-11
Education and Cultural Resources
1997 February 12 - April
18
20 / 12
Finance and Claims [includes House Appropriations]
1997 January 9
20 / 13-43
Finance and Claims [includes Subcommittee minutes
for March 6, and 10-13]
1997 January 9 - April 9
21 / 1-2
Finance and Claims
1997 April 10-11
21 / 3-13
Fish and Game
1997 January 9 - April 10
21 / 14-29
Highways and Transportation [includes Subcommittee
minutes for January 24]
1997 January 7 - April 17
21 / 30-46
Judiciary
1997 January 7 - February
5
22 / 1-31
Judiciary [exhibits from March 20 include
MULTIMEDIA: see MM 18]
1997 February 6 - April
16
22 / 32-39
Labor and Employment Relations [includes
Subcommittee minutes from January 21]
1997 January 7 - February
4
23 / 1-15
Labor and Employment Relations [exhibits for
February 18 include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 5]
1997 February 6 - April
15
23 / 16
Legislative Administration
1997 January 13-27
23 / 17-37
Local Government [exhibits for January 28 include
OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box, folder 5]
1997 January 7 - April 17
24 / 1-30
Natural Resources [exhibits from February 14 and 17
include OVERSIZE MATERIAL: see oversize box folder 5, and map case; see also House
Natural Resources, January 21, 1997]
1997 January 8 - April 9
24 / 31
Public Health, Welfare, and Safety [includes House
Human Services]
1997 January 8
24 / 32-43
Public Health, Welfare, and Safety
1997 January 10 - February
17
25 / 1-15
Public Health, Welfare, and Safety
1997 February 18 - April
7
25 / 16-18
Rules
1996 December 12, 1997 January 13,
March 14
25 / 19-39
State Administration
1997 January 7 - February
19
26 / 1-18
State Administration
1997 February 20 - April
16
26 / 19-47
Taxation [see also House Taxation, January 29,
1997]
1997 January 8 - March 24
27 / 1-9
Taxation [folder 6 includes information hearing for
April 9]
1997 March 25 - April 17
Senate Bills
27 / 10-23
Bill nos. 1-115
1997
28 / 1-21
Bill nos. 116-390 [appendix to SB 175 includes map
of Water Rights Compact, Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, see OVERSIZE
MATERIAL: map case]
1997
29 / 1
Bill nos. 391-397
1997
Senate Joint Resolutions
29 / 2
Bill nos. 1-20
1997
Senate Resolutions
29 / 3
Bill nos. 1-20
1997
Senate Bill Status Reports
29 / 4-6
1st-88th Legislative Day
1997 January 2- April 24
Senate Journals
29 / 7
1st-30th Legislative Day
1997 January 6 - February
8
30 / 1-4
31st-87th Legislative Day
1997 February 9 - April
23
Miscellany
30 / 5
Bill subject index
1997
30 / 6
Memorial tributes
1997
30 / 7
Sponsor list
1997 April 10