Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 12 - FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS › Chapter 12.1 - ORGANIZATIONAL RULE › Subchapter 12.1.1 - N/A › Rule 12.1.101 - ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
(1) The Department
				of Fish and Game was established under executive order by the Governor
				effective July 1, 1972. Its name was changed to Department of Fish, Wildlife
				and Parks effective July 1, 1979. Section
				2-15-3401,
				MCA, creates the department. Its functions are set forth in Title 23 and Title
				87 and other MCA sections.
(2)
				Director. The Governor appoints the director of the Department of Fish,
				Wildlife and Parks. The director is the chief administrative officer of the
				department. The director oversees the development of department policy,
				planning, and management operations and has direct authority over all employees
				of the department.
(3) Montana Fish
				and Wildlife Commission. The Governor appoints the five members who serve for
				four-year terms until their successors are appointed and qualified. The
				Governor appoints the commission chairman. The commission is generally
				responsible for the hunting, fishing, and trapping rules of the department,
				approval of the fish and wildlife budget, and for the overall fish and wildlife
				policy direction. Except as provided in
				23-1-111,
				MCA, the commission is responsible for the rules for recreational use of
				department lands and waters and approval of land acquisitions. Though
				independent of the Montana Parks and Recreation Board, the commission works
				collaboratively to maintain Montana's hunting, fishing, and recreational
				opportunities.
(4) Montana State
				Parks and Recreation Board. The Governor appoints the five members who serve
				for four-year terms until their successors are appointed and qualified. The
				Governor appoints the board chairman. The board is generally responsible for
				overseeing state parks, public campgrounds, and other heritage and recreational
				resources. Their powers and duties include setting policy and direction,
				establishing rules, approving land transactions, and reviewing budgets as
				provided in
				23-1-111,
				MCA. Though independent of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the board works
				collaboratively to maintain Montana's hunting, fishing, and recreational
				opportunities.
(5) Functions of
				the department. The department has four primary programs: fish, wildlife,
				parks, and agency management, which are jointly developed and implemented by
				seven divisions and seven geographic regions. The basic premise of this
				decentralized organizational structure is that division administrators are
				responsible for policy and program development. The regional supervisors assume
				responsibility for the daily activities of all regional personnel with the goal
				of ensuring the proper implementation of department programs.
(6) Department Management. Department
				management includes the director, deputy director, chief of staff, chief of
				operations, chief legal counsel, human resources manager, and chief financial
				officer. Department management provides agency leadership and direction to all
				divisions and regional offices through the Director's Office. Additional
				responsibilities include acting as the liaison with the Governor's office, the
				legislature, Montana's Indian tribes, other state and federal agencies;
				interacting with the commission and the board; and providing legal, budget and
				financial management, and human resource services for the department. The
				deputy director reports directly to the director. The chief of staff, chief of
				operations, chief legal counsel, human resources manager, and chief financial
				officer all report directly to the deputy director. The chief of staff is
				responsible for supervision of the divisions. The chief of operations is
				responsible for supervision of the regional offices, the responsive management
				unit, and the lands unit. The chief financial officer is responsible for
				supervision of the budget bureau and oversees budget and financial data. The
				human resources manager is responsible for the operation of the human resources
				unit. The chief legal counsel is responsible for the operations of the legal
				unit.
(7) Divisions. The
				Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks consists of the following divisions:
(a) Fisheries Division;
(b) Wildlife Division;
(c) Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division;
(d) Enforcement
				Division;
(e) Communication and
				Education Division;
(f)
				Administration Division; and
(g)
				Technology Services Division.