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Committee Hears Bill to Add Sixth Member to Montana Parole Board
Summary
House Bill 186 would increase the Board of Pardons and Parole from five to six members to address growing caseloads and scheduling inflexibility; supporters cited an increase in hearings and a roughly $125,000 annual fiscal impact, while disability advocates asked for a mandatory mental-health seat.
Chair Amy Regier opened the Committee’s hearing on House Bill 186, saying simply: "House Bill 186 simply increases the number on the Board of Pardons and Parole from 5 to 6 members." Supporters told the committee the change would provide scheduling flexibility and help staff get leave while continuing timely hearings.
Jimmy Patelis, a pro-board stakeholder, described statutory changes and caseload shifts since 2017 that have increased hearings, saying his snapshot analysis showed an increase averaging roughly 877 hearings per year after…
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