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Bill to protect volunteer emergency responders from termination draws brief hearing
Summary
Representative Lou Jones introduced House Bill 128 to prohibit termination of employees who serve as volunteers and miss scheduled work while responding to active emergency incidents; Department of Administration signaled technical amendments and public testimony was limited.
Representative Lou Jones, sponsor of House Bill 128, told the House Business and Labor Committee the measure would protect volunteer emergency-service providers from job termination when they are actively engaged in emergencies that protect lives, homes and property.
"It's just designed to protect, volunteer and volunteer emergency service providers from facing job terminations when they're actively engaged in emergencies that protect lives, homes, and property," Jones said when he opened the hearing. He described the bill as "pretty straightforward and simple" and said the intent is to prevent volunteers who are called to an active fire or other incident from being forced to leave because missing a scheduled shift could otherwise risk termination.
The committee heard no public proponents or opponents in person. Carol Ann Davis, State HR Division administrator with the Department of Administration, appeared as an informational witness and said the department is working with the sponsor on technical amendments and would have no problem with the bill after those changes. "With those technical amendments, we would have no problem with it. It would align with current best practices," Davis said.
Jones said he had a supporting letter from the president of the Montana State Volunteer Fire Associations that supporters believe the bill would reassure volunteers that their jobs are not at risk while they respond to emergencies.
The committee closed the hearing on House Bill 128 with no committee action recorded in the transcript. The sponsor and administration indicated willingness to work through technical changes before the bill moves forward.
Votes at a glance: none (hearing only).
