Mont. Code Ann. § 90-1-404

90-1-404 . Geospatial information -- management -- duties of state library. (1) The state library shall:

(a) serve as the administrator of the account;

(b) work with all stakeholders, including but not limited to federal, state, local, private, and tribal entities, to prioritize needs and collect, develop, maintain, and disseminate geographic information systems, geospatial information, and geospatial technologies;

(c) prepare a geospatial information plan and operate according to the provisions of the plan. The plan:

(i) must be created in consultation with the council;

(ii) may include but is not limited to:

(A) the prioritized needs to collect, maintain, and disseminate geospatial information;

(B) priorities for geospatial coordination; and

(C) priorities for grant awards; and

(iii) must be reviewed and, if appropriate, updated every 3 years.

(d) establish an application process and a granting process that must be used to distribute funds in the account;

(e) review all grant applications;

(f) consider grant recommendations by the council;

(g) monitor a recipient's use of grant funds to ensure that the use of the funds complies with the purposes of this part;

(h) coordinate the development of standards for geographic information systems, geospatial information, and geospatial technologies;

(i) serve as the primary point of contact for national, regional, state, and other GIS coordinating groups for the purpose of channeling issues and projects to the appropriate individual, organization, agency, or other entity;

(j) provide administrative and staff support to the council, including paying the expenses of the council;

(k) annually prepare a budget to carry out the state library's responsibilities described in this section; and

(l) implement the conservation easement information requirements as provided for in 76-6-212 .

(2) To fulfill the responsibilities described in subsection (1), the state library or any recipient of funds granted pursuant to this part may contract with a public or private entity.