BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 44.2.204 pertaining to access to documents and fees for copies

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

          1. On December 1, 2016, at 9:30 a.m., the Secretary of State will hold a public hearing in the Secretary of State's Office Conference Room, Room 260, State Capitol Building, Helena, Montana, to consider the proposed amendment of the above-stated rule.

 

2. The Secretary of State will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this public hearing 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 November 23, 2016, 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, MT 59620-2801; telephone (406) 431-7718; fax (406) 444-4249; TDD/Montana Relay Service (406) 444-9068; or e-mail [email protected].

 

3. The rule as proposed to be amended provides as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:

 

     44.2.204  ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND FEES FOR COPIES

(1)  Pursuant to Article II, section 9, of the Montana Constitution, and 2-6-102 2-6-1003, MCA, government documents may be examined and copies provided to the public, with a few exceptions where privacy concerns outweigh the public's right to know.

          (a) through (8) remain the same.

          (9)  Fees charged for electronic information and nonprint records will be determined on a case-by-case basis pursuant to 2-6-110 2-6-1006, MCA.

 

AUTH: 2-15-405, MCA

IMP: Article II, section 9, Montana Constitution, 2-6-102, 2-6-103, 26-104, 2-6-110 2-6-1003, 2-6-1006, MCA

 

REASON: In 2015, the Montana Legislature completely revised the public records statutes contained in Title 2, chapter 6, MCA. These amendments are necessary to update the statutory references contained within the rule and within the implementation statutes.

 

4. Concerned persons may present their data, views, or arguments, either orally or in writing, at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to Jorge Quintana, Secretary of State's Office, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana 59620-2801, or by e-mailing [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., December 9, 2016.

 

5. Jorge Quintana, Secretary of State's Office, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, Montana 59620-2801, has been designated to preside over and conduct the hearing.

 

6. The Secretary of State maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request which includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies that the person wishes to receive notices regarding administrative rules, corporations, elections, notaries, records, uniform commercial code, or a combination thereof.  Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the Secretary of State's Office, Administrative Rules Services, 1236 Sixth Avenue, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, MT  59620-2801, faxed to the office at (406) 444-4263, or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the Secretary of State's Office.

 

7. An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of the notice conform to the official version of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.

 

8. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, apply and have been fulfilled. The primary bill sponsor was contacted by letter on October 25, 2016.

 

9. With regard to the requirements of 2-4-111, MCA, the Secretary of State has determined that the amendment of the above-referenced rule will not significantly and directly impact small businesses.

 

 

 

/s/ JORGE QUINTANA                         /s/ LINDA MCCULLOCH                      

Jorge Quintana                                     Linda McCulloch

Rule Reviewer                                      Secretary of State

         

Dated this 31st day of October, 2016.