This bill revises laws related to fire protection within consolidated city-county governments in Montana. It amends Section 7-3-1345 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to change the leadership structure of fire departments, specifying that they must have a director of fire service or a fire chief instead of a director who is chief. Additionally, the bill removes existing legal language that protects the existence and rights of volunteer fire departments under consolidated city-county governance, indicating a shift in how these departments are recognized and managed.

Furthermore, the bill repeals Sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316 of the MCA, which previously stated that volunteer fire districts or companies and fire departments would not be affected by city-county consolidation. This repeal suggests a significant change in the operational framework for volunteer fire services within consolidated municipalities, potentially limiting their autonomy and altering their governance structure.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-3-1345