Senate Bill No. 176
Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________
A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act revising the law related to eligibility for court-appointed counsel; eliminating substantial hardship in providing for personal or family necessities as criteria for court-appointed counsel; and amending section
46-8-111, MCA."
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:
Section 1. Section 46-8-111, MCA, is amended to read:
"46-8-111. Eligibility for court-appointed counsel -- determination of indigence. (1) The court shall make a determination of indigence.
(2) In applying for court-appointed counsel, a defendant shall submit a sworn financial statement demonstrating financial
inability to obtain legal representation without substantial hardship in providing for personal or family necessities. The
statement is not admissible in a civil or criminal action except when offered for impeachment purposes or in a subsequent
prosecution of the declarant for perjury or false swearing."
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