The 62nd session of the Montana Legislature will convene at noon Monday, Jan. 3, in the State Capitol in Helena.

The first day of session generally is brief and ceremonial. New legislators will be sworn into office, and members of each chamber will officially elect their House and Senate leaders.

Much of the first week of the 2011 session will be devoted to informational meetings for legislators on the state budget process, as well as an overview of the proposed budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal years. All meetings are open to the public.

A schedule of the first week’s events is available on the legislative Web site at http://www.leg.mt.gov under the heading "What’s New."

Also available online is a form for private-sector employers interested in speaking at a "jobs listening session" scheduled for Jan. 8 in the House chamber. The form must be submitted to the Legislative Information Office by Dec. 29. To find the form, click on "Jan. 8 Hearing for MT Employers" under "What’s New."

For more information about the upcoming legislative session, contact the Legislative Information Office at 406-444-2957 or visit http://www.leg.mt.gov.