Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB581: Allow police chief to appoint certain officers as court officer
Status: Failed, May 22, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act allowing a police chief to appoint a special service officer as a court officer; revising the definition of "special services officer" to allow for full-time, paid officers; allowing a court officer to transport a defendant to the place of detention; and amending sections 3-6-303 and 7-32-201, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ALLOWING A POLICE CHIEF TO APPOINT A SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER AS A COURT OFFICER; REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER" TO ALLOW FOR FULL-TIME, PAID OFFICERS; ALLOWING A COURT OFFICER TO TRANSPORT A DEFENDANT TO THE PLACE OF DETENTION; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 3-6-303 AND 7-32-201, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 3-6-303, MCA, is amended to read: "3-6-303. Officers of court -- definitions. (1) The chief of police of the city is the executive officer of the municipal court. The chief of police shall serve all process and execute all orders of the court, either in person or by subordinate police officer, who shall execute process in the chief's name. (2) The chief of police, with the approval of the judge, shall appoint one or more police officers, or reserve officers, as defined in 7-32-201 or full-time or part-time special service officers authorized to carry a firearm and acting under the supervision of the city police, as court officers, one of whom shall attend the sessions of the court and perform all duties in connection with the court that the judge may require. IF A COURT REMANDS A DEFENDANT INTO CUSTODY, A COURT OFFICER HAS AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT THE DEFENDANT TO THE PLACE OF DETENTION. …
Sponsors
- Baum, Denise (D, 45) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Committee
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
- : (H) Transmitted to Senate
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 96 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Law Enforcement, Courts
Common questions
- What is HB581?
- HB581 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Allow police chief to appoint certain officers as court officer.
- What does HB581 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act allowing a police chief to appoint a special service officer as a court officer; revising the definition of "special services officer" to allow for full-time, paid officers; allowing a court officer to transport a defendant to the place of detention; and amending sections 3-6-303 and 7-32-201, mca.".
- What is the status of HB581?
- Failed as of May 22, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Committee (May 22, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB581?
- Baum, Denise (D, 45).
- Where is the official record for HB581?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4280
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.