(1) This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Montana Administrative Procedure Act".

(2) The purposes of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act are to:

(a) generally give notice to the public of governmental action and to provide for public participation in that action;

(b) establish general uniformity and due process safeguards in agency rulemaking, legislative review of rules, and contested case proceedings;

(c) establish standards for judicial review of agency rules and final agency decisions; and

(d) provide the executive and judicial branches of government with statutory directives.

(3) Effective July 1, 2016, this chapter does not apply to the operations of the state compensation insurance fund provided for in Title 39, chapter 71, part 23. Administrative rules adopted by the state fund board of directors prior to July 1, 2016, apply to new and renewal policies issued by the state fund that are effective prior to July 1, 2016. The state fund is subject to rules adopted by any agency that by law apply to the state fund.

Short title -- – purpose – exception