The bill revises laws related to fire protection in consolidated city-county governments by removing existing language that pertains to volunteer fire departments under their jurisdiction. It clarifies that a fire chief must be appointed from the municipality of a consolidated city-county government that has consolidated under option 1. Additionally, the bill amends sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to ensure that the existence of volunteer fire departments, companies, or districts is not affected by the adoption of a city-county consolidated local government, unless specified otherwise by charter.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes that the rights or benefits of members of volunteer fire districts, companies, or departments in retirement or pension plans cannot be abrogated by the consolidation of city-county governments, unless otherwise stated in the charter. The language regarding the repeal of sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316 has been removed, indicating that these sections will remain in effect with the new amendments.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(1): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(2): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(3): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(4): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(5): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1(6): 7-3-1345
HB0547_1: 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(1): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(10): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(11): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(12): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(13): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(2): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(3): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(4): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(5): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(6): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(7): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(8): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2(9): 7-3-1345
HB0547_2: 7-3-1345
HB0547_3(1): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3(2): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3(3): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3(4): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3(5): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3(6): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_3: 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(1): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(2): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(3): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(4): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(5): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(6): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X(7): 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316
HB0547_X: 7-33-2110, 7-33-2316