Every 2 years, usually in November and December of even-numbered years, the Montana Legislature hires staff to work short term during the biennial legislative sessions. Regular sessions begin in early January of odd-numbered years and generally end toward the end of April.
Below are some typical positions for which short-term staff are hired.
Administrative Aide: Provides administrative support to the Office of the Chief Clerk or Secretary of the Senate. Duties include copying, filing, document distribution, responding to questions from the public and staff, running errands, and serving as receptionist.
Assistant Bills Distribution Clerk: Responsible for tracking and distribution of all bills, resolutions, fiscal notes, amendments, and related official legislative documentation for both the House and Senate. Includes record management and tracking, document review and distribution, and providing information and assistance as requested.
Supply Clerk: Responsible for monitoring supply inventories, ordering supplies, and processing paperwork to account for and pay bills.
Word Processor: Responsible for preparing correspondence, press releases, testimonies and other documentation for legislators; creating electronic and paper copies of documents using a personal computer, scanner, and copier; producing and distributing email correspondence to and from legislators; and providing clerical support for legislators and legislative staff.
Assistant Amendments Coordinator: Responsible for providing clerical services and support in the preparation of amendments to bills and standing committee reports.
Bills Clerk: Responsible for tracking and recording the status and actions of individual bills and resolutions to provide an accurate and complete history of each bill process. Also establishes and maintains a daily log of all legislative actions; proofs daily journals; and tracks status of bills in printing, under legal review, or engaged in other processes. Tracks each bill process from introduction until final disposition at the end of the session.
Bills Coordination Clerk: Responsible for handling the physical flow of bills through the legislative process. This includes delivery of bills and resolutions, documenting distribution details, and maintaining documentation of bills and receipts.
Bills Distribution Clerk: Responsible for the assembly and distribution of bill information packets, including bills, fiscal notes, agendas, amendments, reports, and other materials to each legislator, leadership office, committee, and/or other appropriate parties as required. Also establishes and maintains records filing systems for all information reviewed, compiled, and distributed.
Reading Clerk: Responsible for reading bill titles and vote tallies to the House or Senate, operating the sound system, coordinating amendments, and other duties in support of legislators and legislative staff.
Security Guard: Responsible for ensuring the safety and security of legislators, staff, and public; public relations; responding to incidents that threaten security or safety; and reception, supply and refreshment services.
Status Input Technician: Responsible for inputting the daily action taken on each bill into the status system so the status can be printed and placed on the members' desks the next morning. Also ensures that the correct system goes to the public through the information system, inputs a complete progressive status of each bill, and serves as a member of the team responsible for double-checking the accuracy of the system.
Amendments Coordinator: Responsible for preparing amendments to bills at the request of legislators and preparing standing committee reports at the request of committee secretaries.
Assistant Sergeant at Arms – Page Supervisor: Responsible for the hiring, training, and supervision of all House or Senate pages. Also provides assistance and backup to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Assistant Sergeant at Arms – Security: Responsible for the supervision of Security Guards to ensure the safety and security of legislators, staff and the public. Also responsible for responding to incidents that threaten security or safety; public relations; and oversight of supply and refreshment services.
Committee Secretary: Serves as secretary for the assigned standing committee(s). Duties include preparing information and other resources for committees; documenting and providing administrative support for meetings; and preparing minutes and other formal records.
Journal Clerk: Responsible for maintaining the official record of the proceedings of each session of the House or Senate. Maintains an accurate and complete record of each day’s business while maintaining a consistent format and terminology.
Secretary to Secretary of the Senate: Provides administrative support to the Secretary of the Senate’s Office. Duties include copying, categorizing, filing, distribution and transmittal of official Senate actions; coordinating special events and meetings; writing and editing newsletters and other publications; serving as receptionist for the Secretary of the Senate’s Office and Senators; and providing backup to committee secretaries as necessary.
Voting Clerk: Responsible for operating the Official Voting Board in each chamber, providing technical expertise in the operation of the automated voting system, retrieving amendments for floor actions and working with the Secretary of the Senate or Chief Clerk of the House to prepare agendas.
Administrative Services Supervisor: Responsible for supervising Administrative Services for the Legislature, including organizing and administering clerical operations and supervising the operations of the Word Processing Center and secretarial staff. Duties include supervising administrative staff; technical writing; proofreading and editing documents; and performing and overseeing administrative support services. Also responsible for oversight of services related to producing and distributing email correspondence to and from legislators; and providing clerical support for legislators and legislative staff as needed.
Aide to Leadership: Responsible for a variety of public relations, research, and administrative tasks in support of House or Senate leadership and other representatives.
Secretary to Leadership: Responsible for a variety of public relations and administrative support tasks in support of the leadership and other legislators, including preparing correspondence, transcription, tracking legislative actions, reception, and coordinating special events and meetings.
Word Processing Supervisor: Responsible for supervising the operations of the word processing center and for supervising the services provided by committee secretaries and aides. Duties include supervising word processing; technical writing; proofreading and editing documents and committee minutes; and performing and overseeing word processing, scanning, email, copying, and related services. Also responsible for oversight of services related to producing and distributing email correspondence to and from legislators; and providing clerical support for legislators and legislative staff as needed.
Sergeant at Arms: Responsible for managing a variety of services and programs including security, the page program, equipment and supply, and facility maintenance. Supervises the security staff; the Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, pages; and a supply clerk.
Assistant Chief Clerk: Exercises leadership and general supervision to accomplish the work of the House within broad policy guidance and direction established by the Chief Clerk and the Legislative Services Division. Responsible for organizing and administering House office operations, performing a variety of professional activities, and supervising clerical activities related to tracking, documenting, and supporting committee and House actions.
Assistant Secretary of the Senate: Exercises leadership and general supervision to accomplish the work of the Senate within broad policy guidance and direction established by the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Services Division. Responsible for organizing and administering Senate office operations, performing a variety of professional activities, and supervising clerical activities related to tracking, documenting, and supporting committee and Senate actions.
