Bill > SB362

This bill revises the qualifications for municipal firefighters in Montana by modifying existing state law to give fire chiefs more discretion in hiring individuals with criminal records. Specifically, the bill allows fire chiefs to qualify applicants who have been convicted of misdemeanors or felonies, with one important exception: applicants convicted of crimes requiring registration on the sexual or violent offender registry cannot be hired. The bill maintains existing core qualifications for firefighters, which include being a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, being at least 18 years old, having a high school diploma or equivalent, possessing a valid Montana driver's license, passing a physical examination by a qualified medical professional, and being fingerprinted for a criminal background check. The primary change is the removal of the blanket prohibition on hiring individuals with criminal convictions, instead giving fire chiefs the ability to evaluate candidates on a case-by-case basis. The bill also makes a technical amendment to the physical examination section, updating a reference number to align with the new subsection structure. This change potentially expands the pool of potential firefighters while still maintaining public safety standards through the fire chief's discretionary review.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3112