Labor & Employment

HB 128 protects volunteer emergency service providers, such as firefighters and EMTs, from being terminated by their public or private employers. It prohibits employers from firing an employee solely for serving as a volunteer emergency provider, provided the employee notifies their employer of their volunteer status. If an employee is absent or late to work due to volunteer emergency service, they must notify their employer as soon as possible, and employers may request documentation of the emergency response. The bill clarifies that employees cannot claim regular pay for time spent on volunteer duties, and employers retain the right to determine if an employee can leave work to respond to an emergency. Employees whose employment is terminated in violation of these provisions may bring a civil action for remedies like reinstatement and back wages.

HB 197 revises Montana's workers' compensation law to change when temporary disability payments end for injured workers. It directly affects employees receiving temporary total disability benefits who are cleared by a doctor to return to full work duties. The bill specifies that benefits must terminate on the exact date a worker is released for full duty - rather than continuing until medical treatment concludes (maximum medical improvement) - if the worker is cleared before or at that point. This change, effective immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, streamlines benefit termination while requiring physician documentation of medical stability and job suitability before any benefit change.

This bill makes Montana's community health aide program permanent by removing its previously scheduled expiration date. It directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for Medicaid coverage for services provided by certified community health aides. The change directly affects community health aides and their patients, particularly in rural and tribal communities, ensuring continued access to essential healthcare services without future legislative renewal.