Montana Code Annotated 1997

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     41-3-403. Order for immediate protection of youth. (1) (a) Upon the filing of a petition for temporary investigative authority and protective services, the court, after consideration of the parents' statements, if any, included with the petition and any accompanying affidavit or report to the court, may issue an order granting relief that may be required for the immediate protection of the youth.
     (b) The order, along with the petition and supporting documents, must be served by a peace officer or a representative of the department on the person or persons named in the order. When the youth is placed in a medical facility or protective facility, the department shall notify the parents or parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the youth, at the time the placement is made or as soon after placement as possible.
     (c) The order must require the person served to comply immediately with the terms of the order and to appear before the court issuing the order on the date specified for a show cause hearing. The show cause hearing must be conducted within 20 days of the issuance of the order by the judge or a master appointed by the judge. The person filing the petition has the burden of presenting evidence establishing probable cause for the issuance of the order. At the show cause hearing, the court shall provide an opportunity for a parent or guardian, if present, and any other person having relevant knowledge to provide relevant testimony. The court may consider all relevant evidence in accordance with the rules of civil procedure as modified by this part, but may in its discretion limit testimony and evidence to only that which is relevant to the issues of removal from the home and the child's need for continued protection. The court may amend the order. Except as otherwise provided in this part, the rules of civil procedure apply. Hearsay evidence of statements made by the affected youth is admissible at the hearing or at a contested case proceeding held pursuant to Title 2, chapter 4, part 6, that results from adverse licensing action taken by the department.
     (d) If the child is not returned home after the show cause hearing, the person served may request that a local citizen review board, if available pursuant to part 10, review the case within 30 days of the show cause hearing and make a recommendation to the district court as provided in 41-3-1010.
     (e) Upon a failure to comply or show cause, the court may hold the person in contempt or place temporary physical custody of the youth with the department until further order.
     (2) In an order granting or denying relief, the court shall make a finding regarding the reasonableness of agency efforts to rehabilitate the family to prevent the child's removal from the home.
     (3) The court may grant the following kinds of relief:
     (a) right of entry by a peace officer or department worker;
     (b) medical and psychological evaluation of the youth or parents, guardians, or person having physical or legal custody;
     (c) requirement that the youth, parents, guardians, or person having physical or legal custody receive counseling services;
     (d) placement of the youth in a temporary medical facility or a facility for protection of the youth;
     (e) requirement that the parents, guardian, or other person having physical or legal custody furnish services that the court may designate;
     (f) inquiry into the financial ability of the parents, guardian, or other person having custody of the youth to contribute to the costs for the care, custody, and treatment of the youth and requirement of a contribution for those costs pursuant to the requirements of 41-3-411;
     (g) other temporary disposition that may be required in the best interests of the youth 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.
     (4) An order for temporary investigative authority and protective services may not be issued for a period longer than 90 days following the show cause hearing and must be limited to one extension of 90 days. Before the expiration of the time provided for in an order for temporary investigative authority and protective services, the county attorney, the attorney general, or an attorney hired by the county shall file a petition for one of the following:
     (a) limited emancipation;
     (b) temporary legal custody;
     (c) termination of the parent-child legal relationship and permanent legal custody with the right to consent to adoption; or
     (d) dismissal.
     (5) Notwithstanding the above time limits, the court may continue an order for temporary investigative authority pending a hearing on a petition provided for in subsection (4).
     (6) 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. 10-1311 by Sec. 7, Ch. 328, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 100, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 10-1311(4), (5); amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 659, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 696, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 112, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 362, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 458, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 501, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 516, L. 1997.

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