(1) In addition to providing the reports required by 39-71-225 , MCA, the department may prepare special reports.

(a) Special reports may be done at the request of the Governor's Office or the legislative branch. These reports, once generated, will be given to the requesting party and any further distribution will be the responsibility of that party.

(b) Executive branch agencies and other interested parties may request that a special report be prepared by the department. At the department's discretion, it may prepare special reports for the agency or interested party. The department's decision whether to honor the request will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the following considerations:

(i) the priority of reports already scheduled;

(ii) the ability to generate the requested report via the data base system;

(iii) the availability of resources to generate the requested report;

(iv) the availability and validity of relevant data in the data base system;

(v) the balancing of the individual right to privacy and the public's right to know, when the report seeks information that identifies or is identifiable with particular individuals or entities; and

(vi) the recommendations of the department's data base system technical advisory committee, if any.

(2) The department shall determine the cost of developing, printing and mailing of reports and charge an appropriate fee for copies of reports.