Committee Oversight Authority

“Subpoenas. 

1. “A subpoena requiring the attendance of any witness before either house of the legislature or a committee of either house may be issued by the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, or the presiding officer of any committee before whom the attendance of the witness is desired.
2. “A subpoena is sufficient if:
   • “(a) it states whether the proceeding is before the house of representatives, the senate, or a committee;
   • “(b) it is addressed to the witness;
   • “(c) it requires the attendance of the witness at a time and place certain;
   • “(d) it is signed by the president of the senate, speaker of the house, or presiding officer of a committee” (MCA 5-5-101).

“Power to administer oaths. The members of any committee may administer oaths to witnesses in any matter under examination” (MCA 5-5-201).

“Duties of interim committees. 

1. “Each interim committee shall:
   • “(a) review administrative rules within its jurisdiction;
   • “(b) subject to 5-5-217(3), conduct interim studies as assigned;
   • “(c) monitor the operation of assigned executive branch agencies with specific attention to the following:
     • “(i) identification of issues likely to require future legislative attention;
     • “(ii) opportunities to improve existing law through the analysis of problems experienced with the application of the law by an agency; and
     • “(iii) experiences of the state’s citizens with the operation of an agency that may be amenable to improvement through legislative action;
   • “(d) review, if requested by any member of the interim committee, the statutorily established advisory councils and required reports of assigned agencies to make recommendations to the next legislature on retention or elimination of any advisory council or required reports pursuant to 5-11-210;
   • “(e) review proposed legislation of assigned agencies or entities as provided in the joint legislative rules;
   • “(f) accumulate, compile, analyze, and furnish information bearing upon its assignment and relevant to existing or prospective legislation as it determines, on its own initiative, to be pertinent to the adequate completion of its work; and
   • “(g) review proposed ballot initiatives within the interim committee’s subject area and vote to either support or not support the placement of the text of an initiative on the ballot in accordance with 13-27-202.
2. “Each interim committee shall prepare bills and resolutions that, in its opinion, the welfare of the state may require for presentation to the next regular session of the legislature.
3. “The legislative services division shall keep accurate records of the activities and proceedings of each interim committee” (MCA 5-5-215).