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Peer-to-Peer Drafting and Editing Software
Montana’s
Bill Drafting Application
Montana Legislature and Legislative Services Division
• Legislature meets every other year for 90 days
• Legislative Services = full-time, nonpartisan, bill drafting, legal, editing, research, IT, central services
• 22 Drafters (12 non-attorneys, 10 attorneys)
• 3 Technical editors and one proofer
• Montana Constitution affords citizens a strong “right to know”• Bill drafts and drafting materials are public documents
Change on the Horizon
• Draft with WordPerfect based system since 1994
• Old drafting system features:• Macros for many drafting processes, strike/add
• Pulls in current MCA sections
• Diagnostics
• Limited workflow steps (send to legislator, send for legal review, introduce)
• Amendment instructions and delivery to floor (no amendments in context)
Drivers for Change
• Mainframe Database• Key staff had retired; database was obsolete
• Process had become cumbersome and inefficient
• Drafting • WordPerfect not supported
• Retirement of key staff looming
• New technologies
• Develop fully electronic system
• Publication • Inconsistent end products (printed MCA volumes, web site display, Folio)
Redesign Keys for Drafters
• Keep existing functionality as much as possible• Keystroke shortcuts• Standardized section language• Ability to check internal references
• Create system that allows (not requires) entirely electronic drafting and review
• Add new functionality to save time• Electronic “junque”• Workflow• Amendments in Context (Grey Bills)
One of Many
• Other legislative systems involved in system redesign
• Multi-year process
• Legislative Services contracted with Propylon• Domain Experience
• Technology
• Partnership Approach
System Redesign Status
• Implemented• Mainframe migration• Codification software• Publication software• Draft entry and tracking dashboard (2017 session)
• Drafting software new for 2021 session• Next steps: Install for all drafters and train• Continue training, testing, and revising system using interim committee
draft bills
• Amendments in Context for 2021 session
Paper to Paperless
1994 to 2019 Process
• Electronic drafting until legal review
• Paper copy printed for legal review, edit, proofing
• Use dashboard for workflow since 2017
My Dashboard
Create New Draft
Review and Manage Workflow
Checklist
Drafting Tools
• Import most recent MCA sections and session law sections
• Create new statutes
• Use standardized language for common sections• Effective dates, codification instructions, termination dates, savings
clauses, etc
• Track changes functionality to “strike” existing language and “add” new language to existing law
Drafting Tools
Track changes before and after Apply Formatting
Before
After
Imports multiple MCA
sections at once.
Retains diagnostic tests
to fix drafter errors. (Also,
to ensure consistency in
underlying formatting.)
Compare Against the Master Code
Shows conflicts with
other bills and draft
documents.
Adds electronic
editing
functionality.
Using track
changes in Word,
we can interact
electronically
with the editors
and legal
director.
Reorders bill
sections
quickly. No
more
cut/paste. It
also
enforces
numerical
order for
existing
MCA
sections.
Reorders bill sections
quickly. No more cut/paste.
It also enforces numerical
order for existing MCA
sections.
Electronic Archives
• In Montana, Article II, section 9, provides people with the right to examine documents and observe deliberations of all public bodies
• Includes access to bill drafts, versions of those drafts, and drafting materials (ie, emails)
• “Junque Files” = Our term for the drafts and other materials collected and created during the drafting process
• Can be extensive and are often requested by the public
This is a
junque file for
a rather
complicated
campaign
finance bill
from a past
session.
With new system, draft versions
will archive automatically. Saves
time and paper.
Other Improvements
• Drafter can open multiple bills and/or amendments documents at same time
• Have to switch between drafting and amendment functions now
• Draft stays in focus while using the other tools – conflicts, diagnostics
• Amendments in context capability• Easy to create grey bills
• Still determining if committees will vote on amendment instructions or full in-context version
Draft Amendments in Bill Context – Software Creates Amendment Technical Language
Questions?
Rachel Weiss
Research Analyst
Montana Legislative Services Division
rweiss@mt.gov
406-444-5367
Video Walkthrough of Montana Application
• https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AjfFEDEN4NlqOrI&cid=88FEB94CBAA35044&id=88FEB94CBAA35044%219782&parId=88FEB94CBAA35044%216496&o=OneUp
• https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AsLPID9VQ2djdP0&cid=88FEB94CBAA35044&id=88FEB94CBAA35044%219783&parId=88FEB94CBAA35044%216496&o=OneUp
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