5-4-304. Amendatory veto. The governor may return any bill to the originating house with the governor's recommendations for amendment. The originating house shall reconsider the bill under its rules relating to an amendment offered in committee of the whole. The bill is then subject to the following procedures:
(1) The originating house shall transmit to the second house, for consideration under its rules relating to amendments in committee of the whole, the bill and the originating house's approval or disapproval of the governor's recommendations.
(2) If both houses approve the governor's recommendations, the bill must be returned to the governor for reconsideration.
(3) If both houses disapprove the governor's recommendations, the bill must be returned to the governor for reconsideration.
(4) If one house disapproves the governor's recommendations and the other house approves, then either house may request a conference committee, which may be a free conference committee:
(a) If both houses adopt a conference committee report, the bill, in accordance with the report, must be returned to the governor for reconsideration.
(b) If a conference committee fails to reach agreement or if its report is not adopted by both houses, the governor's recommendations are considered not approved and the bill must be returned to the governor for further consideration.
(5) The governor may not return the bill for amendment a second time.
History: En. Sec. 271, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 101, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 85, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 310; re-en. Sec. 85, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 157, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 43-502(3); amd. Sec. 227, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
Structure Montana Code Annotated