Montana Code Annotated 2021

TITLE 5. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

CHAPTER 2. LEGISLATURE -- COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION

Part 2. Organization

Constituent Services Stipend And Reimbursement

5-2-204. Constituent services stipend and reimbursement. (1) Each legislator is entitled to a stipend of $3,000 in a biennium for providing constituent services, which include but are not limited to unreimbursed expenses for mileage, per diem, or lodging as well as communication and information technology, such as expenses for telecommunications or internet, computer hardware and software, postage, and education-related expenses to represent constituents.

(2) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), legislators are allowed reimbursement of up to the amount provided for in subsection (3) in a biennium for otherwise unreimbursed expenses related to the legislator's expenses for mileage, meals, or lodging at rates provided for in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503 incurred for providing constituent services.

(3) The amount authorized under subsection (2) is:

(a) $1,000 if the legislator's district is at least 100 square miles but less than 1,000 square miles;

(b) $2,000 if the legislator's district is at least 1,000 square miles but less than 5,000 square miles;

(c) $3,000 if the legislator's district is at least 5,000 square miles but less than 7,500 square miles; or

(d) $4,000 if the legislator's district is 7,500 square miles or more.

(4) For expenses authorized under subsection (2), a legislator shall apply for reimbursement to the legislative services division by submitting written documentation that satisfies applicable requirements of Title 2, chapter 18, part 5.

(5) Legislators may not be reimbursed for expenses paid from a constituent services account provided for in 13-37-402.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 452, L. 2015.