Bill would require sheriff backup and mediation/arbitration if small towns lack police

Representative Courtney Sprunger told the committee HB 333 creates a clear, stepwise process for small municipalities that lack police departments to secure law‑enforcement services from county sheriffs and, if necessary, use facilitated dispute resolution and binding arbitration to resolve pricing disagreements.

Brian Thompson of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association described existing informal contracting arrangements and said the bill clarifies who must provide services when local arrangements fall apart: “If that doesn't happen, the sheriff has to provide law enforcement services.” Scott Van Dyken, undersheriff in Cascade County, described the real cost of providing deputies and urged the panel to consider how those operating costs are paid in contracts.

Opponents, including former Chouteau Mayor Chris Hindoyan, told detailed local stories of contract cancellations and expressed concern the bill may conflict with an Attorney General opinion that municipalities must have a chief of police. Hindoyan said local taxpayers can be asked to shoulder dramatically higher costs when counties withdraw services.

Committee members asked whether the sheriff retains jurisdiction when a city has its own department (yes, mutual aid occurs), whether counties can offset payments municipalities already make, and how often binding arbitration might be triggered (advocates hope very rarely). Proponents said the bill is designed to preserve flexibility and avoid a one‑size‑fits‑all funding mandate while ensuring residents are not left without policing.

Representative Sprunger closed the hearing saying the bill addresses real, recurring disputes and that she would support committee consideration and a vote in coming days.