The bill aims to revise laws concerning fire protection within consolidated city-county governments in Montana. It specifically removes existing language related to volunteer fire departments that operate under the jurisdiction of these consolidated governments. A key insertion in the bill 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 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to volunteer fire districts and companies, ensuring that the existence of these entities and their members' rights to retirement or pension benefits remain unaffected by the consolidation of local governments.

Furthermore, the bill amends Sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316 of the MCA, which previously contained provisions about the impact of city-county consolidation on volunteer fire departments and their pension plans. The language that stated the consolidation would not affect the existence of these volunteer entities has been retained, but the bill emphasizes that their rights and benefits in retirement or pension plans cannot be abrogated unless specified by charter. Overall, the bill seeks to provide clarity and protection for volunteer fire services within the framework of consolidated city-county governance.

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