Montana Historical Society
Archives
RS 319
Montana. Legislative Council
Montana Legislative Council Records
1955-1983
18 linear feet of shelf space
These Montana Legislative Council records (1955-1983) consist
of general correspondence, minutes, news releases, organizational materials, and subject
files on Council committees and subcommittees.
33:7-2
English
The Montana Legislative Council was created by the 35th Legislative Assembly in 1957. The
Council was composed of six members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker
of the House and six members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees.
No more than three appointees from each house were to belong to a single party. Appointees
served for the length of their term of office or December 31 of the following year,
whichever came first. The Council was given the responsibility to "accumulate, compile,
analyze, and furnish such information bearing upon matters relating to existing or
prospective legislation as may be determined by its own initiative pertaining to important
issues of policy and questions of statewide importance...." e.g., consolidation of state
bodies, financial administration, efficiency in government, etc. The Council was also to
prepare "such bills and resolutions as in its opinion the welfare of the state may require,"
and present these to the succeeding regular session of the legislature. The Council was
given the authority to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and cause
depositions of witnesses to be taken. A primary function of the Council is to undertake
research, usually on topics assigned by a joint resolution during the previous legislative
session but also on topics the Council determines are important. In most cases the Council
appoints a subcommittee composed of legislators and/or, less commonly, private citizens
which assumes the primary responsibility for directing staff research. Subcommittees submit
their findings, recommendations, and legislation to the full Council which may reject,
amend, or accept them. All subcommittee reports adopted by the Council are published and
distributed before the legislative session. In addition to conducting studies on specific
topics, the Legislative Council staff is available to legislators and standing committees
during the legislative session to prepare reports and draft bills on any subject of interest
to legislators. This service was inaugurated in 1959. In the same year the Council was
designated the Montana Commission on Interstate Cooperation whose purpose is to advance
cooperation between Montana and other units of government. The Council also maintains a
reference library and answers requests for information "in every possible area." In 1973 the
Council was reduced in number to four members from each legislative house who served for two
years. In addition, a Committee on Priorities, composed of four members of each legislative
house, was established to consider resolutions requesting Council studies and other study
requests, prepare a list of priorities, and perform other duties. In 1973 the Council was
given the responsibility to publish all laws and resolutions passed or adopted by each
session, prepare indices for them, and distribute copies to various agencies and
repositories. Executive directors of the Council include Eugene C. Tidball, 1957-1965;
Donald L. Sorte, 1965-1969; James W. Van Koten, 1969-1971; Rose E. Weber, 1971-1979; and
Diana S. Dowling, 1979-1986.
This collection consists of five series: general correspondence (1959-1975), minutes
(1957-1975), news releases (1963-1974), organizational materials (1963, 1971-1974), and
subject files (1955-1983). The bulk of the collection consists of subject files which are
predominantly the records of committees and subcommittees of the Council; these are arranged
alphabetically by the name of the subcommittee. Most, but not all, subcommittees issued
reports which were published and distributed. Interfiled with the subcommittee records are
the records of statutory committees which received Legislative Council staff assistance.
These include, for example, the Administrative Code Committee, the Capitol Building and
Planning Committee, the Coal Tax Oversight Committee, the Montana Salary Commission, the
Revenue Oversight Committee, and the Water Resources Oversight Committee. Also interfiled
with the subcommittee subject files are studies and reports conducted by the Council, not by
a subcommittee; these are arranged alphabetically by the subjects of the studies. Maps,
photographs, and printed materials have been transferred to the Library Map Collection, the
Photo Archives, and the Library respectively.
The collection is arranged by series.
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical
Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection.
In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright
owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers.
Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information is available upon request.
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.
Agriculture and state--Montana
Buildings--Design and construction--Montana
Capitols--Montana
District courts--Montana
Education--Finance--Montana
Election law--Montana
Energy development--Montana
Environmental policy--Montana
Equality before the law--Montana
Fire prevention--Montana
Gambling--Montana
Highway planning--Montana
Indians of North America--Legal status, laws, etc.--Montana
Insurance--Montana
Land classification--Montana
Libraries--Montana
Liquor laws--Montana
Local government--Montana
Medical care--Montana
Pesticides--Montana
Probate courts--Montana
Public lands--Montana
Public welfare--Montana
Retirement--Montana
Taxation--Montana
Teachers--Montana
Transportation and state--Montana
Universities and colleges--Montana
Vocational education--Montana
Wages--Montana
Water-supply--Montana
Wild and scenic rivers--Montana
Workers' compensation--Law and legislation--Montana
Montana
Government and Politics
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General Correspondence
1 / 1-4
Miscellaneous (re Council procedures, study
proposals, subcommittee work, etc.)
1959-1975
Minutes
1 / 5-9
Minutes
1957-1975
Maps
1 / 10
List of maps transferred to the Library Map
Collection
News Releases
1 / 11
News releases
1963-1974
Organization
1 / 12
Rules of procedure, staff responsibilities
1963, 1971-1974
Photographs
1 / 13
List of photographs transferred to the Photo Archives
Printed Material
1 / 14
List of printed material transferred to the Library
Subject Files
1 / 15
Subcommittee on Administration (re executive
reorganization)
1961-1963
1 / 16
Administrative Code Committee: agencies' statements
of reasons for the adoption of rules
1976-1977
1 / 17
Administrative Code Committee: agendas for meetings
1979-1982
1 / 18-19
Administrative Code Committee: general correspondence
1975-1978
1 / 20
Administrative Code Committee: interoffice
correspondence
1975-1977
2 / 1
Administrative Code Committee: interoffice
correspondence
1980-1981
2 / 2-3
Administrative Code Committee: incoming
correspondence
1979-1982
2 / 4-7
Administrative Code Committee: outgoing
correspondence
1979-1982
2 / 8-15
Administrative Code Committee: minutes
1975-1982
2 / 16
Administrative Code Committee: press releases
1979-1982
2 / 17
Administrative Code Committee reports re a central
office of hearing officers for executive agencies adoption of rules and disputes;
publication of the Montana Administrative Register and rules and model rules updating;
state legal services; a study of state farms; and a biennial report to the 47th
Legislature
1978-1980, undated
2 / 18-20
Administrative Code Committee: summaries of Montana
Administrative Register and proposed rules
1975-1979
2 / 21
Subcommittee on Administrative Procedures:
correspondence, minutes
1969-1970
2 / 22
Subcommittee on Administrative Procedures: study of
Montana administrative procedures
undated
3 / 1
Subcommittee on Agency Fees
1964
3 / 2-4
Subcommittee on Agricultural Lands, (re preservation
of agricultural lands)
1975-1976
3 / 5-6
Study Committee on Annexation Laws
1979-1980
3 /
Joint Apportionment Committee: see Reapportionment
and Rediscticting Commission
3 / 7
Select Committee on Beef Pricing
1975
3 / 8-9
Study Committee on Branching of Financial
Institutions
1979-1981
3 / 10
Budgeting, Appropriations and Audit Procedures
Subcommittee
1958-1959
3 / 11
Subcommittee on Building Standards
1967-1968
3 / 12-14
Joint Subcommittee on Business (report and
recommendations to the 48th Legislature)
1981-1982
3 /
Joint Interim Commission on Business and Industry:
see Subcommittee on Wine and Liquor Retailing
3 / 15
Capitol Building and Planning Committee re Capitol
master plan
1977-1978
3 / 16-17
Capitol Building and Planning Committee
1979-1982
3 / 18
Capitol Complex Committee
1971-1972
3 / 19-22
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: correspondence
1977-1982
4 / 1-5
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: minutes
1975-1982
4 / 6
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: press releases and
meeting agendas
1977-1982
4 / 7-11
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: reference material
1977-1980
4 / 12
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: severance tax challenge
1980
4 / 13-15
Coal Tax Oversight Committee: study plans and staff
reports
1977-1983
4 / 16
Coeducational correctional facilities study
1977-1972
4 / 17
Subcommittee on the Constitution
1967-1968
4 / 18
Subcommittee on Constitutional Implementation
1972
4 / 19-20
Joint Interim Subcommittee on Constitutions,
elections, and federal relations
1973
4 / 21-22
Interim Study Committee on Container Deposits
1979
5 / 1-2
Task Force on Corrections: correspondence
1982-1983
5 / 3-4
Task Force on Corrections: minutes
1982
5 / 5
Task Force on Corrections: press releases and meeting
agendas
1982
5 / 6
Task Force on Corrections: study plans and staff
reports
1982
5 / 7-9
Study Committee on Corrections Policy and Facility
Needs: correspondence
1979-1980
5 / 10-12
Study Committee on Corrections Policy and Facility
Needs: minutes
1979-1980
5 / 13
Study Committee on Corrections Policy and Facility
Needs: press releases and meeting agendas
1979-1980
5 / 14
Study Committee on Corrections Policy and Facility
Needs: study plans and staff reports
1979-1980
5 / 15
Study Committee on Corrections Policy and Facility
Needs: survey responses
1980
5 / 16
Subcommittee on Custodial Institutions
1963-1964
5 /
Districting and Apportionment Commission: see
Reapportionment and Redistricting Commission
5 / 17-20
Select Committee on Economic Problems (re air
pollution closing of Anaconda Copper Company smelter and refinery, proposed hard rock
mineral severance tax, etc.)
1980-1981
6 / 1
Interim Subcommittee on Education (re community
college governance)
1977-1978
6 / 2
Interim Subcommittee on Education: correspondence (re
community college governance)
1977-1978
6 / 3-4
Interim Subcommittee on Education: minutes (re
community college governance)
1977-1978
6 / 5
Subcommittee on Education (re higher eduction)
1959
6 / 6
Subcommittee on Education (re historic and cultural
resources)
1977-1978
6 / 7
Interim subcommittee on Education (re public
libraries, financing and administration of)
1973
6 / 8-10
Joint Committee on Education (re school finances)
1981-1982
6 / 11-12
Subcommittee on Education (re special education)
1973-1974
6 / 13-15
Subcommittee on Education (re postsecondary
vocational-technical governance)
1977-1978
6 / 16
Subcommittee on Election Laws
1967-1968
6 / 17-19
Study Committee on Energy Forecasting
1977-1980
6 / 20
Subcommittee on Executive Reorganization
1971-1973
6 / 21
Subcommittee on Fidelity Bonds and Custodial
Institutions (re public officials and employee bonds)
1963-1965
6 / 22
Subcommittee on Finance and Claims (re bond issues in
Montana and Swan River Youth Forest Camp)
1973
7 / 1
Subcommittee on Finance and Claims (re bond issues in
Montana and Swan River Youth Forest Camp)
1973
7 / 2
Subcommittee on Finance and Claims (re institutions)
1974
7 / 3
Subcommittee on Fire Laws
1975-1976
7 / 4
Subcommittee on Fire Laws (re Fire Service Academy)
1976
7 / 5-6
Subcommittee on Fire Laws: minutes
1975-1976
7 / 7
Subcommittee on Fire Laws: reports
1975-1976
7 / 8-9
Subcommittee on Fiscal Administration
1959-1962
7 / 10
Subcommittee on Fiscal Analysis
1965-1966
7 / 11-12
Joint Subcommittee on Fish and Game
1981-1982
7 / 13
Fort Union Coal Conference: correspondence
1975-1976
7 / 14
Fort Union Coal Conference: grant proposals submitted
to the National Science Foundation
1975
7 / 15
Fort Union Coal Conference: papers presented
1975
7 / 16
Fort Union Coal Conference: reports
1976
7 / 17
Fort Union Coal Conference: Air Quality Task Force
1976
7 / 18
Fort Union Coal Conference: Common Data Element and
Information Exchange Task Force
1976
7 / 19
Fort Union Coal Conference: Energy Development,
Regulation, and Plant Siting Task Force
1976
7 / 20
Fort Union Coal Conference: Reclamation and Land Use
Task Force
1976
7 / 21
Fort Union Coal Conference: Social and Economic
Impact Task Force
1976
7 / 22
Fort Union Coal Conference: Taxation of Energy
Resources Task Force
1975-1976
7 / 23
Fort Union Coal Conference: Water Allocation and
Quality Problems Task Force
1975-1976
7 / 24-25
Subcommittee on Fossil Fuel Taxation
1974
8 / 1-3
Select Committee on Gambling
1973
8 / 4
Subcommittee on Governmental Efficiency
1959-1960
8 / 5-7
Special committee to investigate the Highway
Department (re efficiency in the engineer's office and the administration of highway
funds, Horace B. William's case against the department for unwarranted dismissal, and
the routing of Interstate 90)
1958-1960
8 / 8-11
Joint Subcommittee on Highways
1981-1982
8 / 12
Joint Interim Subcommittee on Highways and
Transportation
1973
8 / 13
Subcommittee on Home Rule
1971-1972
8 / 14-18
Interim committee on Human Services: correspondence
(re human services delivery system in Montana)
1977-1978
8 / 19
Interim committee on Human Services: minutes (re
human services delivery system in Montana)
1977
9 / 1-2
Interim committee on Human Services: minutes (re
human services delivery system in Montana)
1978
9 / 3
Interim committee on Human Services: press releases
and meeting agendas (re human services delivery system in Montana)
1977-1978
9 / 4-5
Interim committee on Human Services: study plans and
staff reports (re human services delivery system in Montana)
1977-1978
9 / 6-7
Joint Subcommittee on Human Services (re a proposal
for the reorganization of Montana's youth services)
1981-1982
9 / 8-10
Joint Subcommittee on Human Services: minutes (re a
proposal for the reorganization of Montana's youth services)
1981-1982
9 / 11
Subcommittee on Human Services (re survey of the
management and services of the Montana Department of Institutions)
1981-1982
9 / 12
Subcommittee on Income Taxation
1969-1970
9 / 13-15
Select Committee on Indian Affairs
1979-1982
9 / 16-17
Committee on Indian Legal Jurisdication
1977-1978
9 / 18
Subcommittee on Insurance
1971-1972
9 / 19-21
Select Committee on Inter-School Activities (re the
Montana High School Association and Montana inter-school activities)
1974
10 / 1
Select Committee on Inter-School Activities (re the
Montana High School Association and Montana inter-school activities)
1974
10 / 2-3
Subcommittee on Investments (re the investment of
public funds)
1963-1964
10 / 4
Subcommittee on Judiciary (re alcoholic beverage
control statutes and the equality of the sexes)
1974
10 / 5
Subcommittee on Judiciary (re appellate court delay)
1981-1982
10 / 6-10
Subcommittee on Judiciary (re district courts)
1975-1976
10 / 11-13
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary: correspondence (re
district courts: indigent defense and prosecutorial services)
1981-1982
10 / 14-15
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary: minutes (re district
courts: indigent defense and prosecutorial services)
1981-1982
10 / 16
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary: press releases,
meeting agendas, and survey (re district courts: indigent defense and prosecutorial
services)
1981-1982
10 / 17
Joint Committee on Judiciary: study plans and staff
reports (re district courts: indigent defense and prosecutorial services)
1981-1982
10 / 18
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary: study plans and
staff reports (re district courts: indigent defense and prosecutorial services)
1982
10 / 19
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary (re no-fault
insurance)
1973-1974
11 / 1-3
Joint Committee on Judiciary (re sovereign immunity)
1974-1976
11 / 4
Joint Subcommittee on Judiciary (re uniform probate
code)
1973-1974
11 / 5
Subcommittee on Justices of the Peace Courts
1959-1960
11 / 6
Joint Subcommittee on Legislative Administration
1973
11 / 7
House Subcommittee on Legislative Administration
1987-1988
11 / 8-10
Legislative Fiscal Review Committee
1967-1970
11 / 11
Legislative Fiscal Review Committee (includes brief
history of the committee, 1983)
1970, 1983
11 / 12-16
Subcommittee on Legislative Improvement
1977-1980
11 / 17
Subcommittee on Legislative Modernization
1969-1972
11 / 18
Legislative procedures study
1961
11 / 19
Subcommittee on Legislative Rules
1963
11 / 20-21
Subcommittee on Liquor Control
1959-1964
12 / 1-2
Subcommittee on Liquor Control
1963-1964
12 / 3
Subcommittee on Local Government
1969-1970
12 / 4-6
Subcommittee on Local Government Laws
1977-1978
12 / 7-9
Select Committee on Medical Malpractice
1976
12 /
Joint Interim Subcommittee on Natural Resources and
Agriculture: see Subcommittee on Agricultural Lands
12 / 10
Interim Committee on Needs for Legislative Employees
1968
12 / 11-15
Subcommittee on Occupational Licensing and Teacher
Certification
1975-1976
12 / 16-17
Subcommittee on Personnel and Retirement Systems
1963-1964
12 / 18-19
Subcommittee on Pesticides
1969-1970
12 /
Subcommittee on Priorities and Rules: see
Subcommittee on Rules
13 / 1-2
Prison Subcommittee
1957-1959
13 / 3-4
Subcommittee on Property Classification Law and
Agency Fees
1963-1964
13 / 5
Subcommittee on Property Taxation
1968-1970
13 / 6
Subcommittee on Public Health, Welfare, and Safety
(re local vs. state health service, etc.)
1973-1974
13 / 7-9
Study Committee on Public Retirement Systems
1979-1980
13 / 10-11
Subcommittee on Public Welfare
1971-1972
13 / 12-15
Subcommittee on the Railraod Commission (re utility
rates and consumer protective legislation, the Public Service Commission, etc.)
1969-1972
13 / 16-18
Reapportionment and Redistricting Commission
1973-1976
13 / 19
Recodification of the Revised Codes of Montana
1975-1976
14 / 1
Subommittee on Retirement Systems and Occupational
Licensing Boards (re retirement systems for policemen and firefighters)
1964-1966
14 / 2
Retirement systems for public employees in fire
protection and law enforcement
1974
14 / 3-4
Subcommittee on Rules
1973-1974
14 / 5-8
Revenue Oversight Committee: correspondence
1979-1982
14 / 9-16
Revenue Oversight Committee: minutes
1979-1982
14 / 17-18
Revenue Oversight Committee: study plans and staff
reports
1979-1982
14 / 19
Revenue Oversight Committee: correspondence, bill
drafts, etc. (re revision of Montana's property tax classification system, and other
reports)
1977-1978
15 / 1-4
Revenue Oversight Committee: minutes (re revision of
Montana's property tax classification system, and other reports)
1977-1979
15 / 5
Subcommittee on Roll Call and Sound System Equipment
1971
15 / 6
Subcommittee on Rules
1972
15 / 7
Montana Salary Commission (includes draft minority
report, 1973)
1973-1974
15 /
Montana Salary Commission (report and
recommendations), 1975-1976: see Box 20, folders 20-29
15 / 8-11
Montana Salary Commission
1978, 1980, 1982
15 / 12-13
Subcommittee on School Construction - Laboratories
1971-1972
15 / 14-15
Subcommittee on School Foundation Program
1971-1972
15 / 16
Subcommittee on School Law Revision
1965-1966
15 / 17
Subcommittee on School Laws
1969-1970
15 / 18
Study Committee on Seed Certification
1980
15 / 19
Subcommittee on Self-Insurance
1969-1970
15 / 20
Subcommittee on State Administration
1973
15 / 21
Select Committee on State Employee Pay
1975-1976
15 / 22-23
Select Committee on State Employee Pay: minutes
1975-1976
15 / 24-25
Select Committee on State Employee Pay: reports
1975-1976
16 / 1
Subcommittee on State Laboratories
1971-1972
16 / 2-3
Subcommittee on State Lands and Investments (re
grazing lands)
1958-1962
16 / 4
Subcommittee on State Legal Services and Election
Laws
1977-1978
16 / 5-6
Subcommittee on State Legal Services and Election
Laws: correspondence
1977-1978
16 / 7-8
Subcommittee on State Legal Services and Election
Laws: minutes
1977-1978
16 / 9-10
Interim Study Committee on State Mandates and the
effects of state owned property on local governments
1979-1980
16 / 11
Subcommittee on State Printing
1967-1968
16 / 12-13
Subcommittee on Subdivision Laws
1977-1978
16 / 14
Subcommittee on Subdivision Laws: correspondence
1977-1978
16 / 15-17
Subcommittee on Subdivision Laws: minutes
1977-1978
16 / 18-20
Governor's Special Committee on Taxation
1955
17 / 1-5
Subcommittee on Taxation
1965-1967
17 / 6-7
Subcommittee on Taxation (re corporation license tax)
1967-1968
17 / 8
Subcommittee on Taxation (re household goods,
property taxes)
1973
17 / 9
Subcommittee on Taxation (re inheritance tax)
1975-1977
17 / 10
Subcommittee on Taxation (re moneys, solvent credits,
and industrial facilities taxation)
1974
17 / 11
Subcommittee on Taxation (re property taxation)
1959-1961
17 / 12-14
Subcommittee on Taxation (re property taxes:
assessment and classification
1975-1976
17 / 15
Subcommittee on Taxation (re state income tax)
1975-1976
17 / 16-17
Subcommittee on Taxation (re vehicle licensing and
taxation)
1974
17 / 18-19
Joint Subcommittee on Transportation (re rail line
abandonment, air service, transportation of commodities, etc.)
1981-1982
17 / 20
Subcommittee on University - School Equalization -
Juvenile Institutions
1971-1972
17 / 21
Subcommittee on Vietnam Veteran Bonus
1969-1971
17 / 22
Subcommittee on Vocational Education
1967-1968
18 / 1
Subcommittee on Vocational Education
1967-1968
18 /
Subcommittee on Water and Self Insurance: see
Subcommittee on Self-Insurance
18 / 2-3
Subcommittee on Water Conservancy Districts
1965-1966
18 / 4-6
Water Resources and Adjudication Oversight Committee
1979-1980
18 / 7
Subcommittee on Water Resources Board
1971-1972
19 / 1
Water Resources Oversight Committee
1981-1982
19 /
Subcommittee on Water Rights (determination of
existing water rights), 1977-1979: see Box 20 folders 1-19
19 / 2-3
Subcommittee on Water Use Priorities
1967-1968
19 / 4
Subcommittee on Water Use Priorities (re uses of
water for the development of coal resources)
1967-1968
19 / 5-6
Select Committee on Wild Rivers
1973-1974
19 / 7
Select Committee on Wine and Liquor Retailing
1975-1976
19 / 8
Subcommittee on Workmen's Compensation
1974
20 / 1-19
Subcommittee on Water Rights (determination of
existing water rights)
1977-1979
20 / 20-29
Montana Salary Commission (report and
recommendations)
1975-1976