In Re Yoldande L.

Weant, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. The record of the instant case reflects that on 14 July 1980, Yoldande L., the appellant herein, was adjudicated a ³¹¹ delinquent by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, sitting as a juvenile court. Thereafter, by court order dated 22 July 1980, Yoldande L. was placed on probation under the supervision of the Juvenile Services Administration for a six month period. Approximately two months later, on 29 September 1980, there was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City a claim for restitution.

A hearing on this matter was had before a juvenile master on 13 November 1980 and a judgment of restitution was entered against Yoldande L. in the amount of $96.00. Because an exception to the master’s restitution order was thereafter filed, a hearing was had before the circuit court, sitting as a juvenile court, on 5 December 1980. On that date Yoldande L.’s exception was denied. In bringing the instant appeal, the juvenile in question raises the same issue she raised below, namely: It was error to conclude that the order of restitution was not illegal as untimely or so inordinately late as to deny her due process.

For the reasons stated, we agree with the essence of the appellant’s contention. While section 3-829 of the Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland authorizes a court to order that a juvenile make restitution, it does not specifically provide for a time frame in which this is to be done. Instead, subsection c of that rule states: "A judgment of restitution against a parent may not be entered unless the parent has been afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present appropriate evidence in his behalf. A hearing under this section may be had as part of an adjudicatory or disposition hearing for the child.” For more specific time requirements relative to this matter, we turn to Maryland Rules 915a and 918a.

Rule 915a provides that "[i]f after an adjudicatory hearing the court determines that the allegations of the petition at issue in the adjudicatory hearing have been sustained, it shall promptly schedule a separate disposition hearing. The disposition hearing shall be held no later than thirty days after the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing.” Rule 918a provides that ³¹² [i]f, at any stage of a proceeding, the court believes a respondent has committed acts for which his parent or parents may be liable under section 3-829 of the Courts Article, the court shall summon the parent or parents in the manner provided by Rule 104 (Service of Process — Generally) or Rule 116 (Execution of Process by Private Person) to appear at a hearing to determine liability. This hearing may be conducted