Committee approves bill allowing counties to compensate reserve deputies after amendment

HELENA — The House Local Government Committee on Tuesday approved House Bill 323, which authorizes counties to compensate reserve deputy sheriffs in a manner determined by the county commission, after the committee adopted a conceptual amendment to change the bill’s title language from “salary” to “compensation.”

Supporters said the change would give counties flexibility to recruit and retain reserve officers — including for school resource officer roles and other assignments — when full-time staffing and budgets are constrained. Some members expressed concern about training, scope of duty and whether counties should instead seek funding for full-time, post-certified officers.

Representative Patrick, who introduced the bill, described it as a limited statute to permit counties to provide compensation to reserve deputies. Committee members moved a conceptual amendment to replace the word “salary” with “compensation” in the bill title and agreed the technical change could be handled as a conceptual amendment.

During committee questions, members asked about training requirements and the intended scope of reserve officers’ duties. Representative Alvaro said he preferred fully post-certified SROs (school resource officers) and noted specialized training is available; Representative Sprunger and other members responded that many reserve officers are post-trained and that, locally, reserves often complete substantial continuing training. Representative Sprunger described reserves in his area as receiving regular additional training and said he was “very surprised by how comprehensive their training was.”

Representative Cogut said the bill’s core authorization is focused: “This section’s officer may be compensated in a manner determined by the county commission. That’s really what the bill is asking for. Period. So speaking to the bill, I’m for it.”

The committee approved the amendment and then passed the bill as amended. The record shows at least one recorded dissenting vote — Representative Cordum voted no — and proxies were recorded that put Representatives Fitzpatrick and Overstreet on record as voting aye by proxy.

The bill will move from the House Local Government Committee to the next step in the legislative process; committee members and witnesses said additional floor or Senate amendments remain possible, including amendments to add training standards or oversight language.