Montana State Legislature

HB 697: Interim Study of the Staffing, Structure, and Duties of the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council

HB 697: Interim Study of the Staffing, Structure, and Duties of the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council

HB 697 revises laws related to the Public Safety Officers Standards and Training (POST) council. The bill requires the council to report on pending investigations to the LJIC, and requires LJIC to conduct an interim study. 

Study tasks listed in the bill include:

  • Examine the legislative history of the council’s structure, staffing, and duties;
  • Review the current structure, staffing, and duties of the council;
  • Compare the council’s structure and administrative attachment to that of other states;
  • Provide recommendations to the 69th Legislature for how the council should be structured and staffed

Final Report (Adopted September 2024) - Sara Hess, LSD

July 2023:
The committee selected a moderate level of study of the POST Council to satisfy the requirements of HB 697.

July Meeting Materials:


September 2023:
The committee reviewed a background paper on the POST Council's history and structure within state government, POST Council staff and board members conducted a panel presentation, and legislative staff provided a high-level summary of the structures of POST organizations and legislative trends in other states. During the work session, the committee voted to revise its work plan and decrease the level of study from moderate to low for this topic.

September Meeting Materials:


November 2023:
The committee received an update from POST Council staff and recommendations from stakeholders. The Department of Justice also provided a presentation on the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, a separate entity from the POST Council that provides various levels of training for law enforcement officers in Montana.

November Meeting Materials:


May 2024:
The committee reviewed a draft final report and heard brief testimony from POST Council staff. The committee did not request amendments to the report or further action. 

May Meeting Materials: 


July 2024:
The committee voted to adopt the study findings as drafted by staff in the final report.

July Meeting Materials:


September 2024
The committee voted to adopt the final report.

Additional Resources:

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