2-15-2302. Board of pardons and parole -- composition -- allocation -- quasi-judicial. (1) There is a board of pardons and parole.
(2) (a) The board consists of seven members, each of whom must have knowledge of American Indian culture and problems gained through training as required by rules adopted by the board. One member must be an enrolled member of a state-recognized or federally recognized Indian tribe located within the boundaries of the state of Montana. The tribal member may not be required to hear and act on all American Indian applications before the board.
(b) Board members must have knowledge of serious mental illness and recovery from serious mental illness gained through annual training as required by rules adopted by the board. One member must be a mental health professional as defined in 53-21-102.
(c) Board members must possess academic training that has qualified them for professional practice in a field such as criminology, education, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, law, social work, sociology, psychiatric nursing, or guidance and counseling. Related work experience in the areas listed may be substituted for these educational requirements.
(3) The governor shall attempt to establish geographic balance among board members.
(4) Board members shall serve staggered 4-year terms. The governor shall appoint three members in January of the first year of the governor's term, two members in January of the second year of the governor's term, and two members in January of the third year of the governor's term. The provisions of 2-15-124(2) do not apply to the board.
(5) The terms of board members run with the position, and if a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired portion of the term.
(6) The governor shall designate the presiding officer, as provided in 2-15-124. The governor may designate a different presiding officer at any time. If the governor designates a different presiding officer, the former presiding officer still serves as a board member unless removed for cause pursuant to 2-15-124(6).
(7) The board is allocated to the department for administrative purposes only as prescribed in 2-15-121. However, the board may hire its own personnel, and 2-15-121(2)(d) does not apply.
(8) The board is designated as a quasi-judicial board for purposes of 2-15-124, except board members must be compensated as provided by legislative appropriation and the terms of board members must be staggered as provided in subsection (4).
(9) A favorable vote of at least a majority of the seven members of the board is required to implement any policy, procedure, or administrative rule. A favorable vote of at least a majority of the members of a hearing panel, as defined in 46-23-103, is required to make decisions regarding parole and executive clemency, and the provisions of 2-15-124(8) do not apply.