Montana § 2-8-101 - Purpose

§ 2-8-101. Purpose

Purpose. (1) The legislature finds state government actions have produced a substantial increase in numbers of agencies, growth of programs, and proliferation of rules. The legislature questions whether conditions causing the establishment of these agencies, programs, and rules have not changed to such an extent as to remove the need for some or all of the agencies, programs, and rules. (2) It is the intent of the legislature, by establishing a system of periodic evaluation of the need for and the performance of agencies or programs preparatory to termination, modification, or reestablishment, to be in a better position to ensure as follows: (a) The executive department is responsive to the needs of all of the people of the state. (b) No agency, program, or rule exists which is not responsive to those needs. (c) No profession, occupation, business, industry, or other endeavor is subject to the state's regulatory power unless the exercise of such power is necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare from significant and discernible harm or damage. The exercise of the state's police power shall be done only to the extent necessary for that purpose. (d) The state may not regulate a profession, occupation, industry, business, or other endeavor in a manner which will unreasonably adversely affect the competitive market. (e) There exists a systematic legislative review of the need for and public benefits derived from a program or function by a periodic review and termination, modification, or reestablishment of such programs and functions.