This bill creates a new criminal offense for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle within 200 feet of another person's property or residence without their permission. The law imposes a $500 fine on individuals who knowingly fly drones in violation of this rule. Several exceptions are included for government agencies, law enforcement, utility workers, and broadband providers conducting authorized inspections or emergency responses. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
This bill updates Montana's public defender system by clarifying when courts can assign legal representation at public expense, particularly in cases involving parents in termination of parental rights proceedings. It authorizes courts to assign public defenders to serve as members of treatment court teams and expands the list of situations where counsel must be provided regardless of a person's financial ability, including certain juvenile and mental health commitment cases. The legislation also maintains restrictions on public defenders acting as court-appointed special advocates in youth court and abuse proceedings, while allowing contracted private attorneys to fill those roles under specific conditions. These changes aim to streamline how public defender services are assigned and delivered across the state's courts.
This bill establishes a work time credit system for probationers and parolees in Montana, allowing them to reduce their supervision period by earning one day of credit for every 40 hours of eligible employment completed. To qualify for this credit, individuals must comply with all court or board conditions and stay current on restitution payments and supervisory fees, while submitting proof of employment within five business days after completing 30 days of work. The supervising officer must verify employment through documentation and other methods, and any awarded credit must be revoked if the individual violates conditions, is charged with a new felony, or is charged with a misdemeanor that could result in more than six months of incarceration. The program excludes those on misdemeanor-only probation, those under lifetime supervision, registered sex or violent offenders, and youth court participants.
This bill updates Montana's extradition laws to align with federal timelines and clarify procedures for returning individuals to other states on criminal warrants. It directly affects law enforcement, courts, and individuals subject to extradition requests by establishing specific rules for holding, transferring, and releasing people. Key changes include setting transfer timelines based on federal standards, requiring people returned to Montana to pay transport costs, and updating definitions for terms like "governor's warrant" and "requisition." The bill also clarifies when Montana can try a person locally versus extraditing them, and outlines conditions for bail and habeas corpus challenges during extradition proceedings.
This bill amends Montana law to restrict judges from granting bail to defendants who are on warrants issued by other jurisdictions. Under the new rules, judges can only admit defendants to bail if they are properly appearing before the court and are not subject to an out-of-state warrant. The legislation also clarifies that bail must be continued when a defendant is bound over to another court, with exceptions for those on external warrants. Additionally, the law maintains provisions allowing bail during appeals and permits virtual appearances through audio-video communication.
This bill requires Montana county attorneys to collect and retain records related to child sexual abuse investigations for 25 years, specifically when the alleged perpetrator is 12 years of age or older. It mandates that county attorneys receive case materials from law enforcement, child welfare departments, and interdisciplinary child safety teams, and must confirm receipt of reports to the initial reporters within a specified timeframe. Additionally, county attorneys must submit annual reports to the attorney general detailing case identifiers, filing dates, prosecution decisions, and conviction outcomes, while the attorney general will compile aggregated data and report findings to the law and justice committee. The bill also establishes a standardized reporting form and ensures that all collected information remains confidential criminal justice data.
This bill requires the Montana Department of Revenue to obtain criminal history records for its employees who have access to federal taxpayer information by requesting data from the Montana Department of Justice. It mandates that these employees submit fingerprints for background checks conducted by both the state Department of Justice and the federal Bureau of Investigation, with employees signing a release to allow this process. The Department of Revenue will cover all costs associated with obtaining these criminal record reports, and the law takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
This bill expands Montana's criminal record expungement laws to include certain nonviolent felony offenses, allowing individuals with such convictions to petition for the permanent removal of their criminal records. It defines expungement as the permanent destruction or erasure of arrest and court records, while excluding violent offenses and certain serious crimes like assault, stalking, and driving under the influence. Under the new provisions, people convicted of nonviolent felonies may request expungement after a 10-year waiting period without new charges, whereas misdemeanor expungement requires a 5-year wait. The bill also establishes that expungement is presumed if the petitioner has no pending charges and meets the waiting period requirements, though courts retain discretion to deny requests based on factors like rehabilitation and likelihood of reoffending.
This bill amends Montana's assault laws to classify the non-consensual administration of specific drugs as assault. It directly affects individuals who provide substances like rohypnol, flunitrazepam, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, alcohol, or diphenhydramine to others without their consent. The law includes exceptions for medical providers treating patients, parents administering medication to minor children, guardians of incapacitated adults, and the use of opioid overdose reversal medications. A person convicted of this offense faces a fine of up to $500, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both penalties.
This bill creates a new criminal offense for assaulting employees of public utilities in Montana, covering acts that cause bodily injury, create reasonable fear of serious injury through weapons, or result in serious bodily injury. The law directly affects individuals who attack utility workers and establishes specific prison terms and fines based on the severity of the assault, with penalties ranging from up to 10 years in prison and $50,000 in fines for lesser offenses to up to 20 years and the same fine for causing serious bodily injury. By defining these actions as distinct crimes with enhanced penalties, the legislation aims to provide clearer legal consequences for violence against utility workers without changing how other assault cases are handled.
