BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the adoption of New Rule I and amendment of ARM 44.5.122 pertaining to fees charged by the Secretary of State

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AMENDED NOTICE AND EXTENSION OF COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

1. On July 30, 2015, the Secretary of State published MAR Notice No. 44-2-206 pertaining to the public hearing on the proposed adoption and amendment of the above-stated rules at page 1038 of the 2015 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 14.

 

2. The Secretary of State will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 17, 2015, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Jorge Quintana, Secretary of State's Office, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana, 59620-2801; telephone (406) 431-7718; fax (406) 444-4249; TDD/Montana Relay Service (406) 444-9068; or e-mail [email protected].

 

3.  The Secretary of State is extending the comment period to amend the statement of reasonable necessity for ARM 44.5.122 because the proposed fee decrease did not include the statement required by 2-4-302(1)(c), MCA.

 

4. The statement of reasonable necessity is being amended as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:

 

REASON: House Bill 123 passed by the 2015 Montana Legislature prohibits the Secretary of State from charging the Legislature or a public officer for any search relative to matters pertaining to the member's office. This legislative change makes it reasonably necessary to amend this rule to reflect that legislative intent. The Secretary of State is proposing this rule amendment to become effective October 1, 2015. The cumulative amount for all persons of the proposed decrease is approximately $20,500.00 annually based on 2014 charges for government registered principals searches. The number of persons affected is between 15 and 20 state agencies.

 

5. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed action in writing to: Jorge Quintana, Secretary of State's Office, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana, 59620-2801; telephone (406) 431-7718; fax (406) 444-4249; TDD/Montana Relay Service (406) 444-9068; or e-mail [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., September 25, 2015.

 

 

/s/ JORGE QUINTANA                         /s/ LINDA MCCULLOCH            

Jorge Quintana                                     Linda McCulloch

Rule Reviewer                                       Secretary of State

         

Dated this 31st day of August, 2015.