House bill NO. 491
INTRODUCED
BY S. Gunderson
By Request of the ****
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER LAWS; CREATING A RECOGNITION OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE ON RETIREMENT; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Recognition of meritorious service on retirement. (1) The highway patrol chief shall award to a highway patrol officer, on retirement, that highway patrol officer's badge, duty weapon, and handcuffs, providing that a committee of three of the highway patrol officer's peers certifies to the highway patrol chief that the retiring highway patrol officer has:
(a) served meritoriously for a minimum of 20 years and must be so honored; or
(b) taken medical retirement resulting from an in-the-line-of-duty injury sustained while providing meritorious service.
(2) The highway patrol chief shall award to a surviving spouse or dependent of a highway patrol officer who died in the line of duty that highway patrol officer's badge, duty weapon, and handcuffs.
Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 44, chapter 1, part 6, and the provisions of Title 44, chapter 1, part 6, apply to [section 1].
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.