Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Bill would clarify how small Montana towns secure policing: arbitration and county contracting proposed
Summary
House Bill 333 would create a process for third‑class cities and towns to secure law‑enforcement services—preserving interlocal agreements, requiring payment by the municipality receiving services, and using the MSU Local Government Center and limited binding arbitration when negotiations fail. County associations sought technical amendments on contracting authority and arbitration selection.
Representative Courtney Sprunger introduced House Bill 333 as a framework to ensure every community has access to law‑enforcement services while preserving existing interlocal agreements.
Sprunger said the bill ‘‘does not interfere with those agreements’’ but clarifies what happens when a municipality lacks a police department and no contract exists: the county sheriff would provide services, and the municipality receiving services would be responsible for payment. The bill also creates a role for the Montana State University Local Government Center to facilitate moderated discussions and, if necessary, a binding arbitration process with limits on duration.
Brian Thompson, speaking for the Montana…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
