Senate Bill No. introduced by T. Tezak and G. Lammers aims to revise the qualifications for municipal firefighters in Montana. The bill amends Sections 7-33-4107 and 7-33-4108 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Notably, it allows fire chiefs the discretion to qualify applicants who have been convicted of certain misdemeanors or felonies as firefighters, provided they have not been convicted of crimes that require registration on the sexual or violent offender registry. This change is significant as it broadens the pool of potential candidates for firefighting positions, acknowledging that not all criminal convictions should disqualify individuals from serving in this capacity.

Additionally, the bill maintains existing qualifications, such as citizenship, age, education, and physical fitness requirements, while introducing a new provision that permits fire chiefs to make case-by-case determinations regarding applicants with criminal records. The physical examination requirements for applicants remain unchanged, ensuring that all candidates are still evaluated for their ability to perform the demanding duties of a firefighter. Overall, this legislation seeks to balance the need for qualified firefighters with the opportunity for rehabilitation and inclusion of individuals with past convictions.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-33-4107, 7-33-4108
SB0362_1(1): 7-33-4107, 7-33-4108
SB0362_1: 7-33-4107, 7-33-4108