Montana § 32-1-908 - Felony Charges -- Suspension Or Prohibition

§ 32-1-908. Felony Charges -- Suspension Or Prohibition

Felony charges -- suspension or prohibition. (1) Whenever any board member or officer of an institution or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of an institution is charged in any information, indictment, warrant, or complaint authorized by a county, state, or federal authority with the commission of or participation in a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust, the director by written notice served upon the board member, officer, or other person may suspend that individual from office or prohibit that individual from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution. Suspension is effective upon service upon the individual. The notice must contain a statement of the facts constituting grounds for the order and must fix a place and time, not later than 14 days from the date of the notice, at which a hearing will be held to afford the board member, officer, or other person the opportunity to respond. A copy of the notice must also be served upon the institution. The suspension or prohibition remains in effect until the information, indictment, warrant, or complaint is finally disposed of or until terminated by the director. (2) Within 14 days after the hearing provided for in subsection (1), the board member, officer, or other person may apply to the district court for the county in which the home office of the institution is located for a stay of the suspension or prohibition pending the completion of the criminal proceedings initiated by the information, indictment, warrant, or complaint. The court has jurisdiction to stay the suspension or prohibition. (3) If a judgment of conviction with respect to the offense is entered against the board member, officer, or other person and at the time that the judgment is not subject to further appellate review, the director may issue and serve upon the board member, officer, or other person an order removing that individual from office or prohibiting that individual from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution except with the consent of the director. A copy of the order must also be served upon the institution, and upon receipt the board member or officer ceases to be a board member or officer of the institution. A finding of not guilty or other disposition of the charge does not preclude the director from instituting proceedings to suspend or remove the board member, officer, or other person from office or to prohibit further participation in the affairs of the institution pursuant to 32-1-905 or 32-1-906 .