Montana § 7-33-4510 - Workers' Compensation For Volunteer Firefighters -- Notification If Coverage Not Provided -- Definitions

§ 7-33-4510. Workers' Compensation For Volunteer Firefighters -- Notification If Coverage Not Provided -- Definitions

Workers' compensation for volunteer firefighters -- notification if coverage not provided -- definitions. (1) An employer may provide workers' compensation coverage as provided in Title 39, chapter 71, to any volunteer firefighter who is listed on a roster of service. (2) An employer may purchase workers' compensation coverage from any entity authorized to provide workers' compensation coverage under plan No. 1, 2, or 3 as provided in Title 39, chapter 71. (3) If an employer provides workers' compensation coverage as provided in this section, the employer may, upon payment of the filing fee provided for in 7-4-2631 (1)(a), file a roster of service with the clerk and recorder in the county in which the employer is located and update the roster of service monthly if necessary to report changes in the number of volunteers on the roster of service. The clerk and recorder shall file the original and replace it with updates whenever necessary. The employer shall maintain the roster of service with the effective date of membership for each volunteer firefighter. (4) If an employer does not provide workers' compensation coverage, the employer shall annually notify the employer's volunteer firefighters that coverage is not provided. (5) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (a) (i) "Employer" means the governing body of a fire agency organized under Title 7, chapter 33, including a rural fire district, a fire service area, a volunteer fire department, a volunteer fire company, or a volunteer rural fire control crew. (ii) The term does not mean a governing body of a city of the first class or second class, including a city to which 7-33-4109 applies, that provides workers' compensation coverage to employees as defined in 39-71-118 . (b) "Roster of service" means the list of volunteer firefighters who have filled out a membership card prior to performing services as a volunteer firefighter. (c) (i) "Volunteer firefighter" means a volunteer who is on the employer's roster of service. A volunteer firefighter may include a volunteer emergency care provider as defined in 50-6-202 who is on the roster of service. A volunteer firefighter is not required to be an active member as defined in 19-17-102 . (ii) The term does not mean an individual who is not listed on a roster of service or a member of a volunteer fire department provided for in 7-33-4109 .