No owner or administrator of, nor any person employed or associated with, an institution shall accept from any applicant for care of patient, or from any other person on behalf of such an applicant or patient, advance payment or compensation for a period of care for the applicant or patient exceeding twelve (12) months.
This section shall not be construed to include those cases where such institution is operated by a bona fide charitable organization and there has been a gift or donation to the institution by any patient, or person on behalf of the patient, but otherwise shall be strictly construed. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 89-5.)