41-3-406. Dispositional hearing -- temporary legal custody. (1) If a youth is found to be a youth in need of care under 41-3-404, the court may enter its judgment, making any of the following dispositions to protect the welfare of the youth:
     (a) permit the youth to remain with the youth's parent or guardian, subject to those conditions and limitations the court may prescribe;
     (b) grant an order of limited emancipation to a youth who is 16 years of age or older, as provided in 41-3-408;
     (c) transfer temporary legal custody to any of the following:
     (i) the department;
     (ii) a licensed child-placing agency that is willing and able to assume responsibility for the education, care, and maintenance of the youth and that is licensed or otherwise authorized by law to receive and provide care of the youth; or
     (iii) a relative or other individual who is recommended by the department or a licensed child-placing agency designated by the court and who is found by the court to be qualified to receive and care for the youth;
     (d) order a party to the action to do what is necessary to give effect to the final disposition, including undertaking medical and psychological evaluations, treatment, and counseling that does not require an expenditure of money by the department unless the department is notified and a court hearing is set in a timely manner on the proposed expenditure. The department is the payor of last resort after all family, insurance, and other resources have been examined.
     (e) order further care and treatment as the court considers in the best interests of the child that does not require an expenditure of money by the department unless the department is notified and a court hearing is set in a timely manner on the proposed expenditure. The department is the payor of last resort after all family, insurance, and other resources have been examined pursuant to 41-3-411.
     (2) To grant temporary legal custody, the court shall make a finding that:
     (a) dismissing the petition would create a substantial risk of harm to the child or detriment to the child's physical or psychological well-being; and
     (b) unless there is a finding that reasonable efforts are not required pursuant to 41-3-403, reasonable services have been provided to the parent or guardian to prevent the removal of the child from the home or to make it possible for the child to safely return home.
     (3) If reasonable efforts have been made to prevent removal of a child from the home or to return a child to the child's home but continuation of the efforts is determined by the court to be inconsistent with permanency for the child, the department shall make reasonable efforts to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with a permanent plan and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.
     (4) If the court finds that reasonable efforts are not necessary pursuant to subsection (2) or (3), a permanency hearing must be held within 30 days of that determination and reasonable efforts must be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the permanency plan and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.
     (5) An order for temporary legal custody may be in effect for no longer than 6 months. Before the expiration of the order for temporary legal custody, the county attorney, the attorney general, or an attorney hired by the county shall petition for one of the following:
     (a) an extension of temporary legal custody, not to exceed a total of 6 months, upon a showing that additional time is necessary for the parent or guardian to successfully complete a treatment plan;
     (b) termination of the parent-child legal relationship and either:
     (i) permanent legal custody with the right of adoption; or
     (ii) appointment of a guardian pursuant to 41-3-607;
     (c) long-term custody pursuant to 41-3-412;
     (d) appointment of a guardian pursuant to 41-3-421; or
     (e) dismissal.
     (6) The court may continue an order for temporary legal custody pending a hearing on a petition provided for in subsection (5).
     (7) If an extension of temporary legal custody is granted to the department, the court shall state the reasons why the child was not returned home and the conditions upon which the child may be returned home.
     (8) If the time limitations of this section are not met, the court shall review the reasons for the failure and order an appropriate remedy that considers the best interests of the child.

     History: En. 10-1314 by Sec. 10, Ch. 328, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 10-1314; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 567, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 170, Ch. 575, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 564, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 659, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 696, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 362, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 458, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 170, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 516, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 428, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 566, L. 1999.