80-20-103. Unlawful acts. (1) A person who does not have the effective consent of the owner may not acquire or otherwise exercise control over a crop research facility, a crop from a crop research facility, or other property from a crop research facility with the intent to deprive the owner of the facility, crop, or property or to damage the enterprise conducted at the crop research facility.

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Terms Used In Montana Code 80-20-103

  • Consent: means agreement in fact, whether express or apparent. See Montana Code 80-20-102
  • Crop: means a product grown, developed, or raised for purposes including but not limited to human or animal consumption, research, industrial use, commercial use, or pharmacological use. See Montana Code 80-20-102
  • Deprive: means to:

    (a)withhold a crop or other property from the owner permanently or for such a period of time that a major portion of the value or enjoyment of the crop or property is lost to the owner;

    (b)restore the crop or other property only upon payment of reward or other compensation; or

    (c)dispose of a crop or other property in a manner that makes recovery of the crop or property by the owner unlikely. See Montana Code 80-20-102

  • Effective consent: means consent by the owner or by a person legally authorized to act for the owner. See Montana Code 80-20-102
  • Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
  • Notice: means :

    (a)oral or written communication by the owner or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner;

    (b)fencing or other enclosure obviously designed to exclude intruders or to contain crops; or

    (c)a sign or signs posted on the property or at the entrance to a building that are reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders and that indicate that entry is forbidden. See Montana Code 80-20-102

  • Owner: means a person who has:

    (a)title to the property; or

    (b)lawful possession of the property. See Montana Code 80-20-102

  • Person: means an individual, state agency, corporation, association, nonprofit corporation, joint-stock company, firm, trust, or partnership; two or more persons having a joint or common interest; or some other legal entity. See Montana Code 80-20-102
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
  • Research facility: means a public or private place, laboratory, institution, medical care facility, elementary school, high school, college, or university at which a scientific test, experiment, or investigation involving the use of a crop is lawfully carried out, conducted, or attempted. See Montana Code 80-20-102

(2)A person who does not have the effective consent of the owner and who purposely or knowingly intends to damage the enterprise conducted at a crop research facility may not:

(a)damage or destroy a crop research facility or a crop or property in or on the premises of a crop research facility;

(b)enter a crop research facility that is at the time closed to the public with the intent to commit an act prohibited by this part;

(c)remain concealed in a crop research facility with the intent to commit an act prohibited by this part;

(d)enter a crop research facility and commit or attempt to commit an act prohibited by this part;

(e)enter a crop research facility to take pictures by photograph, video camera, or other means with the intent to commit an unlawful act; or

(f)enter or remain on the premises of a crop research facility if the person:

(i)had notice that the entry was forbidden; or

(ii)received notice to depart but failed to do so.

(3)The provisions of this part do not apply to lawful activities of a government agency or its employees who are carrying out their duties under law or to lawful activities of a financial institution or other secured party.