This bill proposes revisions to the compensation structure for deputy sheriffs in Montana by amending Section 7-4-2508 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). The key change involves increasing the percentage of the sheriff's salary that is used to calculate the salary for deputy sheriffs. Specifically, the bill establishes a new schedule where deputy sheriffs' compensation is set at 85% to 97% of the sheriff's salary, depending on the population of the county, replacing the previous range of 85% to 95%. This adjustment aims to ensure that deputy sheriffs receive a more equitable compensation relative to the sheriff's salary.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definitions related to compensation, specifying that it refers to the base rate of pay without including longevity payments or overtime. The sheriff is also required to adjust deputy sheriff compensation based on a rank structure within the office. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the financial recognition of deputy sheriffs in relation to their sheriff counterparts, thereby potentially improving recruitment and retention in law enforcement.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-4-2508
HB0486_1(1): 7-4-2508
HB0486_1: 7-4-2508