HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced a new internal process and timeline for putting items in front of the Fish and Wildlife Commission and State Parks and Recreation Board that they say will provide more transparency on when and how the public interacts with the department, board and commission as well as clarity on the role each plays.
The new process will involve FWP sending out proposals for public comment prior to bringing them to the commission or board. These proposals and the public comment collected will be considered by commissioners or board members several weeks prior to the official meeting.
If commissioners or board members have changes they’d like to see in the department’s proposal, they will work with FWP legal staff to craft amendments. The original proposal, collected public comment, proposed amendments, and other relevant information will be posted online two weeks prior to the commission or board meeting where final action would be taken.
The commission and board will consider and make a final decision on department proposals to include commission and board amendments and public comment in one meeting; this is a change from current process where frequently the commission and board will approve items for public comment at one meeting and then consider comment and proposal amendments at a second meeting.
The new process will be in place for the June 23rd Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting and the May 12th and 13th State Parks Board meeting.
