HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on Montana’s proposed harassment and discrimination policy (all times local):
12:40 p.m.
A panel of Montana lawmakers has unanimously approved a revamped harassment and discrimination policy after dropping mandatory training for legislators.
The Legislative Council voted for the policy during a meeting Thursday in Lewistown. The policy must also be approved by the full Legislature in January.
Republican Sen. Fred Thomas of Stevensville is chairman of the Legislative Council. He says there could be additional minor changes before January, but he has no doubt the policy will be adopted.
Democratic Rep. Jenny Eck of Helena helped write the policy. She says it’s been thoroughly vetted and is the strongest policy that can be passed.
The proposal is one of many being considered in statehouses across the nation in response to the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment, and amid a growing number of misconduct allegations against lawmakers.
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5:05 a.m.
A panel of Montana lawmakers is taking up a new policy proposal meant to prevent sexual harassment or discrimination.
The Legislative Council will consider the proposal Thursday at its meeting in Lewistown. It’s the culmination of a process that began in December amid accusations of sexual misconduct in other statehouses across the nation.
Earlier this month, a subcommittee gave initial approval to the policy that defines sexual harassment, calls for mandatory training, creates a process for investigating complaints and makes substantiated cases available to the public.
The male leaders of the House and Senate previously questioned the need for a new policy because no complaints have been filed.
If the council approves the policy, it still must pass a rules committee before it can be implemented for January’s legislative session.
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