House Bill No. 578 seeks to amend Montana's restitution laws by eliminating the requirement for courts to consider an offender's financial resources when determining restitution amounts. The bill clarifies that restitution should be set during sentencing without regard to the offender's ability to pay, reinforcing the principle of victim compensation. Key amendments include the deletion of language that previously mandated consideration of an offender's financial situation, thereby ensuring that victims receive restitution promptly and in full, regardless of the offender's financial circumstances.

Additionally, the bill allows victims to provide information about their pecuniary or property losses directly to probation officers, even in the absence of a court order, ensuring that victims' losses are adequately represented. It also modifies the conditions under which a court may grant a petition to adjust or waive restitution payments, prohibiting such adjustments within one year of the restitution order or while the offender is in custody. These changes aim to uphold the integrity of restitution orders while still allowing for potential modifications under changing circumstances, ultimately strengthening the restitution process in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1(1): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1(2): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1(3): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1(4): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1(5): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_1: 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(1): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(10): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(11): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(12): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(13): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(14): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(2): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(3): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(4): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(5): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(6): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(7): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(8): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X(9): 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246
HB0578_X: 45-5-206, 45-5-503, 45-5-507, 45-5-627, 45-6-101, 46-18-101, 46-18-242, 46-18-246