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Committee hears bill to modernize Montana's extradition law
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 535, a governor-request bill that updates Montana's Uniform Criminal Extradition Act to clarify warrant types, require judicial bail setting in fugitive matters and modernize language first adopted in 1947.
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, lawmakers opened discussion on House Bill 535, a governor-request bill to update Montana's Uniform Criminal Extradition Act (Title 46, Chapter 30) to clarify terminology and procedures used by law enforcement and courts.
The bill matters because the statute was adopted in 1947 and, proponents said, contains imprecise language that has caused confusion for sheriffs, prosecutors and judges. Supporters told the committee the changes will clarify which types of warrants apply in particular situations, ensure fugitives cannot post bail before appearing before a judge in extradition matters, and streamline the governor's ability to meet constitutional duties under inter-state extradition requirements.
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