49-3-103. Permitted distinctions. - Montana Statutes

     49-3-103. Permitted distinctions. (1) Nothing in this chapter prohibits any public employer:
     (a) from enforcing a differentiation based on marital status, age, or physical or mental disability when based on a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or where the differentiation is based on reasonable factors other than age;
     (b) from observing the terms of a bona fide seniority system or any bona fide employee benefit plan, such as a retirement, pension, or insurance plan, that is not a subterfuge to evade the purposes of this chapter, except that an employee benefit plan may not excuse the failure to hire any individual;
     (c) from discharging or otherwise disciplining an individual for good cause; or
     (d) from providing greater or additional contributions to a bona fide group insurance plan for employees with dependents than to those employees without dependents or with fewer dependents.
     (2) The application of an employment preference as provided for in 2-18-111, 10-2-402, 18-1-110, and Title 39, chapter 29 or 30, by a public employer as defined in 39-29-101 and 39-30-103 may not be construed to constitute a violation of this chapter.

     History: En. 64-328 by Sec. 13, Ch. 487, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 64-328; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 279, L. 1983; (2) En. Sec. 13, Ch. 1, Sp. L. 1983; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 646, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 506, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 13, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 407, L. 1993.