reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 5-2-212 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-212. Organization of senate

  5-2-212. Organization of senate. At 12 noon on the day appointed for the meeting of any regular session of the legislature, the senior member present must take the chair, call the senators and senators-elect to order, call over the senators from the certified roster prepared by the secretary of state, and then, from the certified roster prepared by the secretary of state, call over the senatorial districts and counties, in their order, from which members have been elected at the preceding election. After the same are called the members-elect must take the constitutional oath of office and assume their seats. The senate may thereupon, if a quorum is present, proceed to elect its officers.   History: En. H.B. No. 69, p. 103, L. 1897; re-en. Sec. 163, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 57, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 57, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 238; re-en. Sec. 57, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 18, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 43-207; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 575, L. 1981.
MT Code § 5-2-213 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-213. Organization of house of representatives

  5-2-213. Organization of house of representatives. At the time specified in 5-2-212, the secretary of state or, in case of the secretary of state's absence or inability, the senior member-elect present shall take the chair, call the members-elect of the house of representatives to order, and then, from the certified roster prepared by the secretary of state, call over the roll of counties and districts. After the names are called, the members-elect shall take the constitutional oath of office and assume their seats. The house of representatives may at that time, if a quorum is present, proceed to elect its officers.   History: En. Sec. 164, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 58, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 58, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 239; re-en. Sec. 58, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 18, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 43-208; amd. Sec. 220, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 5-2-214 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-214. Oath to be entered on journals

  5-2-214. Oath to be entered on journals. An entry of the oath taken by the members of the legislature must be made on the journals of the proper houses, respectively.   History: En. Sec. 165, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 59, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 59, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 240; re-en. Sec. 59, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 43-209.
MT Code § 5-2-215 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-215. Election of officers

  5-2-215. Election of officers. In all elections of officers of either branch of the legislature, a majority of all the votes given is necessary to a choice.   History: En. Sec. 8, p. 90, L. 1885; re-en. Sec. 1332, 5th Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; re-en. Sec. 166, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 60, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 60, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 60, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 43-210.
MT Code § 5-2-216 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-216. Tie vote

  5-2-216. Tie vote. If there is a tie vote for the purposes of organizing the senate or the house of representatives then, for the purposes of organization, the political party's candidate for president of the senate or speaker of the house then having a member of that candidate's party as the governor of Montana is elected.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 25, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 43-210.1; amd. Sec. 221, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 5-2-217 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-217. through 5-2-220 reserved

  5-2-217 through 5-2-220 reserved.
MT Code § 5-2-221 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-221. Officers and employees of the senate and house of representatives

  5-2-221. Officers and employees of the senate and house of representatives. (1) The officers of the senate include a president, a president pro tempore, a majority leader, a minority leader, a majority whip, and a minority whip.   (2) The officers of the house of representatives include a speaker, a speaker pro tempore, a majority leader, a minority leader, a majority whip, and a minority whip.   (3) The president and president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker and speaker pro tempore of the house must be elected by the house of which they are a member.   (4) The majority leader, minority leader, majority whip, and minority whip of the senate and house must be elected by their respective caucuses.   (5) A secretary of the senate, sergeant at arms, and chaplain must be appointed by the president subject to confirmation by the senate, and a chief clerk of the house, sergeant at arms, and chaplain must be appointed by the speaker subject to confirmation by the house.   History: En. 43-214.1 by Sec. 1, Ch. 186, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 88, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-214.1; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 17, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 4, Sp. L. May 2007.
MT Code § 5-2-222 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 2. Organization|5-2-222. Powers and duties of officers

  5-2-222. Powers and duties of officers. The president and president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker and speaker pro tempore of the house of representatives may administer the oath of office to any senator or representative and to the officers and employees of their respective bodies. The officers and employees must perform such duties as are required by the rules or orders of the respective bodies which elect them.   History: En. Secs. 4 and 5, p. 170, L. 1891; re-en. Sec. 200, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 67, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 65, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 252; re-en. Sec. 65, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 43-301(part).
MT Code § 5-2-302 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 3. Compensation and Expenses of Members and Officers|5-2-302. Compensation and expenses when legislature not in session

  5-2-302. Compensation and expenses when legislature not in session. When the legislature is not in session, a member of the legislature, while engaged in legislative business with prior authorization of the appropriate funding authority, is entitled to:  (1) a mileage allowance as provided in 2-18-503;   (2) expenses as provided in 2-18-501 and 2-18-502; and   (3) a salary equal to one full day's pay at the rate described in 5-2-301(1) for each 24-hour period of time (from midnight to midnight), or portion of a 24-hour period, spent on authorized interim[, interim budget,] or administrative committee legislative business or as otherwise provided by law. However, if time spent for business other than authorized legislative interim[, interim budget,] or administrative committee business or business related to 5-11-305 results in lengthening a legislator's stay away from home into an additional 24-hour period, the legislator may not be compensated for the additional day. (Bracketed language terminates December 31, 2025--sec. 12, Ch. 525, L. 2021.)   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 224, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 103, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-310.1; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 1, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 8, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 1, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 222, Ch. 61, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 81, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 392, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 525, L. 2021.
MT Code § 5-2-303 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 3. Compensation and Expenses of Members and Officers|5-2-303. Participation in state benefits group -- employer contribution made to other plan

  5-2-303. (Subsection (2)(c) effective on occurrence of contingency) Participation in state benefits group -- employer contribution made to other plan. (1) Individual members of the senate and the house of representatives may enroll in the state employees benefits group during the terms to which they have been elected. The provider of benefits shall enroll and collect employee contributions directly from those legislators. The employer contribution must be paid from funds appropriated for that purpose.   (2) (a) If a member elects to waive coverage under the state employees benefits group plan and is insured under a plan providing disability insurance, as defined in 33-1-207, or is covered through a life insurance policy, as defined in 33-1-208, the department of administration, upon request of the member, shall pay to the member an amount equal to the premium required to be paid by the member for coverage of the member and any dependents under the disability insurance plan or life insurance policy, subject to the limitation contained in subsection (2)(b) less any required tax withholding.   (b) A payment made under subsection (2)(a) may not exceed the amount of the employer contribution for group benefits for members of the legislature as provided for in 2-18-703.   (c) To the extent allowed under federal law, a member may be reimbursed for premiums for:   (i) a plan offered as an individual major medical policy or a medicare supplement plan; or   (ii) coverage under medicare plans.   (d) Unused employer contributions must be transferred to an account as provided in 2-18-703 for a legislator who is a state employee and who has contributions paid for by another agency when the legislature is not in session. (Subsection (2)(c) effective on occurrence of contingency--sec. 3, 4, Ch. 300, L. 2017.)   History: En. 43-310.3 by Sec. 12, Ch. 563, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-310.3; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 555, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 229, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 392, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 300, L. 2017.
MT Code § 5-2-401 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-401. Definitions

  5-2-401. Definitions. (1) As used in 5-2-406, "term" means the 4-year period to which a senator is normally elected in the absence of a vacancy.   (2) For the purposes of this part, "vacancy" or "vacancies" has the same meaning as prescribed in 2-16-501.   History: (1)En. Sec. 3, Ch. 179, L. 1967; Sec. 43-217, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 198, L. 1977; Sec. 43-215, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 43-215(4)(a), 43-217.
MT Code § 5-2-403 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-403. Appointee to be of same political party

  5-2-403. Appointee to be of same political party. (1) Whenever an appointee's predecessor served as a member of a political party, the appointee named under 5-2-402 must be a member of the same political party and must be selected from a list of three individuals provided:   (a) by the county central committee in a district within a single county; or   (b) by the county central committees, acting together, in a multicounty district, as described in 5-2-402.   (2) Whenever the appointing board is unable to elect an appointee from the submitted list, the appointing board shall request a second list of three names from the county central committee or committees. The second list may not contain any of the names submitted on the first list. The appointing board shall then select an appointee from the individuals named on both lists.   (3) The provisions of this section do not apply if the predecessor served as an independent.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 198, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-215(5); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 336, L. 2003.
MT Code § 5-2-404 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-404. Procedure upon failure of one candidate to receive majority vote

  5-2-404. Procedure upon failure of one candidate to receive majority vote. In the event that a decision cannot be made by the appointing board because of failure of any candidate to receive a majority of the votes, the final decision may be made by lot from the first and second lists of candidates as provided by 5-2-403 or from a list of three individuals if the predecessor served as an independent, in accordance with rules of selection adopted by the appointing board.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 179, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 198, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-216; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 336, L. 2003.
MT Code § 5-2-405 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-405. Term of appointee

  5-2-405. Term of appointee. (1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the house of representatives, the appointee shall serve until the end of the term to which the predecessor was elected.   (2) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the senate, the appointee shall serve until a successor can be elected as provided in 5-2-406.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 198, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-215(3); amd. Sec. 223, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 5-2-406 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-406. Elections to fill vacancies in senate

  5-2-406. Elections to fill vacancies in senate. (1) Whenever a vacancy occurs 85 days or more before the general election held during the second year of the term, an individual must be appointed pursuant to 5-2-402. The appointment continues until a person is elected to complete the term at the upcoming general election and is sworn into office. The election procedure to be used to elect the successor is as follows:   (a) Whenever the vacancy occurs 85 days or more prior to the primary election during the second year, the same procedure as is used for senators who will be elected to full 4-year terms at that general election must be utilized.   (b) Whenever the vacancy occurs on or after the 85th day prior to the primary election, any political party desiring to enter a candidate in the general election shall select a candidate as provided in 13-10-327 and 13-38-204. A political party shall notify the secretary of state of the party nominee. A person desiring to be a candidate as an independent shall follow the procedures provided in 13-10-501 and 13-10-502. The petition for an independent candidate must be filed with the secretary of state on or before the 85th day prior to the general election.   (2) Whenever a vacancy occurs on or after the 85th day prior to the general election held during the second year of the term, the person appointed by the board under 5-2-402 shall serve until the end of the term.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 198, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-215(4)(b), (4)(c); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 526, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 250, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 229, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 336, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 126, L. 2013.
MT Code § 5-2-407 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 4. Vacancies|5-2-407. Anticipated vacancy

  5-2-407. Anticipated vacancy. (1) Whenever it appears that a vacancy will exist in the legislature because of the inability of an elected legislator to take office at the commencement of the term to which the legislator was elected, an appointee may be selected in advance of the commencement of the term under the provisions of 5-2-402 through 5-2-406.   (2) For purposes of determining the term of office of the appointee, the term of office commences on the day on which the appointee takes the oath of office.   (3) An appointee under this section may take office only if the vacancy in fact exists at the commencement of the term of office.   History: En. 43-216.1 by Sec. 4, Ch. 198, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 43-216.1; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 336, L. 2003.
MT Code § 5-2-501 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 5. Legislative Branch Consolidation|5-2-501. Declaration of policy and purpose

  5-2-501. Declaration of policy and purpose. It is the public policy of this state and the purpose of this part:   (1) to create a structure of the legislative branch of state government that is efficient and responsive to the needs of the people of this state and is sufficiently flexible to meet changing conditions;   (2) to strengthen the legislative branch capacity to administer its affairs effectively and efficiently on behalf of the people of the state;   (3) to provide means for coordination of branch activities; and   (4) to eliminate unnecessary overlapping and duplication of effort within the legislative branch of state government.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 545, L. 1995.
MT Code § 5-2-502 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 5. Legislative Branch Consolidation|5-2-502. Structure of legislative branch

  5-2-502. Structure of legislative branch. The legislature established in Article V, section 1, of the Montana constitution and the committees established by law constitute the legislative branch. The functional organization of the legislative branch is governed by the joint rules of the legislature and the laws governing the several components of the branch. The administrative organization of the legislative branch is consolidated as provided in this part.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 545, L. 1995.
MT Code § 5-2-503 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 5. Legislative Branch Consolidation|5-2-503. Consolidation of legislative branch entities for specified purposes

  5-2-503. Consolidation of legislative branch entities for specified purposes. (1) An entity of the legislative branch that is consolidated as provided in 5-2-504 shall:   (a) exercise its substantive functions independently as provided by law;   (b) adhere to administrative policies, including personnel policies, adopted by the legislative council;   (c) submit its budget proposals through the legislative council; and   (d) submit reports required of it as provided in 5-11-210.   (2) The legislative services division shall:   (a) coordinate budgeting, recordkeeping, reporting, and related administrative and clerical functions as a consolidated entity, including acknowledgment of actions by the approving authority of the consolidated entity;   (b) include within legislative branch budgets the budget proposals for the legislature and the consolidated entities, separately identified;   (c) provide separate identification for appropriations and expenditures for the legislature and for each of the consolidated entities;   (d) establish procedures for approval of expenditures by the legislature and by each of the consolidated entities; and   (e) provide personnel administration for the legislative branch. The senate and the house of representatives or a consolidated entity with statutory hiring authority may hire its own personnel, subject to administrative procedures established by the legislature and legislative council.   (3) The legislative council shall allocate office space occupied by the legislative branch for the use of a consolidated entity as necessary. Space occupied by the senate or the house of representatives may not be reallocated except as provided in 2-17-108. The location of the chambers of the house of representatives and the senate must be determined as provided by 2-17-101.   History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 545, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 20, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 19, L. 1999.
MT Code § 5-2-504 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 2. Legislature -- Composition and Organization|Part 5. Legislative Branch Consolidation|5-2-504. Legislative branch consolidated

  5-2-504. Legislative branch consolidated. The following legislative branch entities are consolidated, as provided in 5-2-503 and this section:   (1) the senate and the house of representatives provided for in Article V, section 1, of the Montana constitution;   (2) the legislative council established by 5-11-101;   (3) the legislative services division established by 5-11-111;   (4) the legislative finance committee established by 5-12-201;   (5) the legislative fiscal division established by 5-12-301;   (6) the legislative audit committee established by 5-13-201;   (7) the legislative audit division established by 5-13-301; and   (8) the environmental quality council established by 5-16-101.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 545, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 19, L. 1999.
MT Code § 5-3-101 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 3. Special Sessions|Part 1. Call of Special Session|5-3-101. Convening of special session -- limiting subjects -- committee meetings -- compensation

  5-3-101. Convening of special session -- limiting subjects -- committee meetings -- compensation. (1) The legislature may be convened in special session by the governor or at the written request of a majority of the members. Subject to 5-5-227, the governor or the legislature may limit the special session to the subjects specified in the call.   (2) (a) A standing committee of the legislature may meet prior to a special session for the purpose of holding hearings and taking action on preintroduced legislation that has been referred to that committee.   (b) Public notice of a hearing to be held by a standing committee prior to a special session must be given at least 7 days before the hearing.   (3) Members of the legislature engaged in presession business for a special session are entitled to receive compensation and expenses as provided in 5-2-302. Members of the legislature are entitled to receive compensation and expenses, as provided in 5-2-301, for the day prior to the convening of a special session.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 433, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 43-319; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 35, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 5, L. 2007.
MT Code § 5-3-102 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 3. Special Sessions|Part 1. Call of Special Session|5-3-102. Calling of a future special session when legislature is in session

  5-3-102. Calling of a future special session when legislature is in session. When the legislature is in session, a majority of the members may by a written request call a special session to meet at a specified time.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 433, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 43-320.
MT Code § 5-3-103 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 3. Special Sessions|Part 1. Call of Special Session|5-3-103. and 5-3-104 reserved

  5-3-103 and 5-3-104 reserved.
MT Code § 5-3-105 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 5. Legislative Branch|Chapter 3. Special Sessions|Part 1. Call of Special Session|5-3-105. Request by 10 members to poll legislators

  5-3-105. Request by 10 members to poll legislators. (1) When the legislature is not in session, any 10 members may in writing request the secretary of state to poll the legislators to determine if a majority are in favor of a special session.   (2) The request must state:   (a) the conditions warranting the call of a special session;   (b) the purposes of the special session; and   (c) the proposed convening date and time of the special session.   History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 433, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 43-321.