Montana Title 41. Minors § 41-5-1511. Dispositional hearing--contributions by parents or guardians for expenses

(1) As soon as practicable after a youth is found to be a delinquent youth or a youth in need of intervention, the court shall conduct a dispositional hearing. The youth's parents or guardian may not be required to contribute to the cost of adjudication, disposition, supervision, care, commitment, or treatment of the youth.

(2) Before conducting the dispositional hearing, the court shall direct that a youth assessment or predisposition report be made in writing by a juvenile probation officer or an assessment officer concerning the youth, the youth's family, the youth's environment, and other matters relevant to the need for care or rehabilitation or disposition of the case, including a statement by the victim or the victim's family. The youth court may have the youth examined, and the results of the examination must be made available to the court as part of the youth assessment or predisposition report. The court may order the examination of a parent or guardian whose ability to care for or supervise a youth is at issue before the court. The results of the examination must be included in the youth assessment or predisposition report. The youth or the youth's parents, guardian, or counsel has the right to subpoena all persons who have prepared any portion of the youth assessment or predisposition report and has the right to cross-examine the parties at the dispositional hearing.

(3) Defense counsel must be furnished with a copy of the youth assessment or predisposition report and psychological report prior to the dispositional hearing.

(4) The dispositional hearing must be conducted in the manner set forth in 41-5-1502(5) through (7). The court shall hear all evidence relevant to a proper disposition of the case best serving the interests of the youth, the victim, and the public. The evidence must include but is not limited to the youth assessment and predisposition report provided for in subsection (2) of this section.

(5) If the court finds that it is in the best interest of the youth, the youth, the youth's parents or guardian, or the public may be temporarily excluded from the hearing during the taking of evidence on the issues of need for treatment and rehabilitation.