Several structural and organizational changes took place in Montana State Government following the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971. The Department of Professional and Occupational Licensing was established to provide administrative support and serve as an “umbrella” Department to various occupational licensing boards. Prior to the establishment of the DPOL, each state licensing board operated as a separate functioning entity. In order to reduce inefficiencies, lower administrative costs, and increase the quality of services to the public, the 1970 Commission on Executive Reorganization recommended the creation of a central authority. When the DPOL was created, it had three Divisions, Centralized Services, Licensing, and Enforcement, and oversaw 26 boards which prepared and submitted budgets through Centralized Services. Later, in 1980, the Legislative Audit Committee ordered an audit of the Department, which revealed inefficiencies in DPOL and listed areas where operations could be improved. Shortly after this, in 1981, DPOL dissolved, and its duties were transferred to the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Commerce.
As of 2024, the Board of Public Accountants operates under the Department of Labor and Industry. Its mission is to protect the public by regulating Certified Public Accountants and ensuring compliance with Montana laws.
The Montana Board of Public Accountants records (1909-1969) consists of two volumes. The first volume (Minutes of the Committee on Accountancy of the University of Montana - 1909-1916) includes approval and denial of applications for examination and granting of certificates. The second volume (Minutes of the State University Committee on Certified Public Accountancy - 1916-1969) includes committee minutes on the administration of laws regulating the practice of public accounting, and examinations, and issuing certificates of competency (passed, conditioned, failed). The second volume also includes, the naming of committee members, review of statewide public accountancy situations, formulation, approval and adoption of new committee rules and regulations, and relevant laws and house bills.
Collection arranged into one series, Minutes. There are two volumes.
Collection is open for research.
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Library & Archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Library & Archives 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.
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 498, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Labor and Industry's various Divisions and Bureaus
that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information 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.