Montana State Legislature
Department of Labor & Industry
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
Agency Leadership
Laurie Esau, Commissioner
Appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate
Agency Website
Agency Overview
The Department of Labor & Industry is comprised of four main divisions:
- Business Standards Division: Building Codes, Permits, Weights and Measures, Professional Licensing, and Boards
- Employment Relations: Worker's Compensation, Human Rights, Workplace Safety and Health, Wage and Hour, Prevailing Wages, and Public Sector Collective Bargaining
- Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Fraudulent Claims, Pay and File Taxes, Employer Resources, and Quarterly Reports
- Workforce Services: Job Services, Training, Skill Development, Jobs for Montana Graduates, Montana Registered Apprenticeship, Montana Works, Labor Market Information
Boards & Entities Attached to the Department of Labor & Industry
- 37 professional and occupational licensing boards (most under Title 37)
- Board of Personnel Appeals, established under 2-15-1705, MCA
- The Commission for Human Rights, established under 2-15-1706, MCA
- The Office of Workers' Compensation Judge, established under 2-15-1707, MCA
- The State Workforce Innovation Board, established under 53-2-1203, MCA, in conjunction with federal law
- The Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, established under 2-15-1704, MCA
Legislative Audits
- 2019 Financial Compliance Audit (19-15), 3 recommendations, all fully implemented
- The Montana Prescription Drug Registry (18DP-01), 9 recommendations; Follow-up (21SP-01), 5 recommendations implemented, 4 in-process.
Statutorily Required Reports to Economic Affairs
- 9/1/2022: Medical marijuana BOME annual report; Board of Medical Examiners (37-3-203, MCA)
- 9/1/2022: Status of special revenue account for death certificate fees; Board of Funeral Services (37-19-204, MCA)
- 9/1/2022: Unemployment Insurance Program Integrity Act (39-51-706, MCA)
- 9/1/2022: Drug Registry Annual Report; Board of Pharmacy (37-7-1514, MCA)
- 9/1/2022: Report on joint meetings held between occupational licensing boards (37-1-107, MCA)
- 9/1/2023: Medical practitioner drug dispensing (one time report); Board of Pharmacy (SB374, 2021)
Reports to the Legislature Related to Economic Affairs
- 9/1/2022: Apprenticeship & Training Annual Report (39-6-101, MCA)
- 9/1/2022: Unemployment benefits for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking (39-51-2111, MCA)
September 2022:
The committee authorized the following agency proposed legislation:
- Board of Behavioral Health chapter consolidation
- Consistency in appointments, qualifications, and terms for all boards and board members
- Licensing enforcement
- Title 37 reform
- Incumbent worker training program updates
- Real estate appraisers
- UI theft and administrative penalties
- Weights and measures rulemaking and fund transfers
- Elimination of licensure for medication aides
February 2022:
November 2021:
- Department of Labor & Industry Agency Overview
- MAR 24-11-375 (8/27/2021)
- MAR 24-11-375 (10/22/2021)
- MAR 24-35-376 (9-10-2021)
