Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE

CHAPTER 16. GRAZING DISTRICTS

Part 1. General Provisions

Powers Of Commission

76-16-113. Powers of commission. The commission has all the powers enumerated in this chapter and any other powers necessary or incidental to carrying out the full purpose and intent of this chapter, including but not limited to:

(1) conducting hearings on issues brought before the commission and conducting investigations into matters affecting the commission or the operation of state districts, including appeals of decisions made by the board of directors of an individual state district or other actions taken in accordance with this chapter;

(2) administratively promoting and fostering an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual trust between the federal bureau of land management, the United States forest service, the department, and state districts and upholding the terms and conditions of any memorandum of understanding between those entities with regard to provisions noted in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Public Rangelands Improvement Act, the Taylor Grazing Act, and this chapter;

(3) prescribing methodologies to be used for the reallocation of grazing preference within cooperative state districts that, for whatever reason, no longer have access to historical grazing preference records;

(4) preparing and standardizing various forms to be used by the state districts and supervising or regulating the organization and operation of state districts;

(5) issuing citations directed to any person requiring the person's attendance before the commission and subpoenaing witnesses and paying expenses that would be allowed in a court action;

(6) requiring an officer or director of a state district to submit records of the state district to the commission for the purpose of aiding an investigation conducted by the commission;

(7) requiring state districts to annually furnish itemized financial reports; and

(8) cooperating and entering into agreements on behalf of a state district, with its consent, with any governmental subdivision, department, or agency in order to promote the purposes of this chapter.

History: En. Sec. 34, Ch. 401, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 31, L. 2001.