Resolve, Directing the Department of Corrections To Develop a Plan To Improve Transitional Services for Sex Offenders and Sexually Violent Predators and To Improve Communications with Law Enforcement Agencies Regarding the Release of Sex Offenders
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0907
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: ROTUNDO, MAKAS, DOUGLASS, SAWYER, BLANCHETTE, CRAVEN, GERZOFSKY, MAILHOT, O'BRIEN, WALCOTT

Legislative Document 
No. 907 
S.P.303 
In Senate, February 20, 2003 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Corrections To Develop a Plan 
To Improve Transitional Services for Sex Offenders and Sexually 
Violent Predators and To Improve Communications with Law 
Enforcement Agencies Regarding the Release of Sex Offenders 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAKAS of Lewiston and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DOUGLASS of Androscoggin, SAWYER of Penobscot, Representatives: 
BLANCHETTE of Bangor, CRAVEN of Lewiston, GERZOFSKY of Brunswick, MAILHOT 
of Lewiston, O'BRIEN of Lewiston, WALCOTT of Lewiston. 
Primed on recycled paper 
Emergency 
Legislature 
do 
preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
not 
become 
effective 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
until 
days 
after 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, 
there 
is 
an 
immediate 
need 
for 
transitional 
services 
for 
sex 
offenders 
and 
sexually 
violent 
predators, 
including support for housing and employment and treatment, ln 
the communi ties to which the sex offenders return after release 
from incarceration; and 
Whereas, improved communication between the Department of 
Corrections and law enforcement agencies is essential to ensuring 
awareness, public safety and more successful transitioning of sex 
offenders and sexually violent predators back into society; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, heal th and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Department of Corrections to develop plan to establish 
transitional services for sex offenders and sexually violent predators and to 
improve communications with law enforcement agencies. Resolved: 
That 
the Department of Corrections, in coordination with other state 
agencies, 
the 
Legislature, 
law 
enforcement officers, 
private 
service providers and other interested parties, shall develop a 
plan to establish transitional services for sex offenders and 
sexually violent predators released from incarceration, including 
community 
support 
for 
housing 
and 
employment 
and 
necessary 
counseling 
and 
treatment. 
The 
department 
shall 
also, 
in 
coordination with the Legislature and law enforcement officers, 
develop a plan to improve communications between the department 
and law enforcement agencies regarding the conditional release 
and discharge of sex offenders and sexually violent predators 
from 
incarceration. 
The 
department 
shall 
present 
a 
report, 
including its recommendations 
and plans for 
implementation of 
those 
recommendations, 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety by May 
1, 
2003. 
The Joint 
Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may 
report 
out 
legislation 
to 
implement 
the 
recommendations 
if 
necessary. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This 
resolve 
directs 
the 
Department 
of 
Corrections 
to 
Page l-LR0686(1) 
develop 
a 
plan 
to 
establish 
transitional 
services 
for 
sex 
offenders 
and 
sexually 
violent 
predators 
released 
from 
incarceration, 
including 
community 
support 
for 
housing 
and 
employment and necessary counseling and treatment, and to improve 
communications 
between 
the 
department 
and 
law 
enforcement 
agencies regarding the conditional release and discharge of sex 
offenders 
and 
sexually violent predators. 
The 
Department of 
Corrections 
shall report 
to 
the Joint Standing Committee 
on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety by 
May 
1, 
2003, 
and the 
committee has authority to report out any necessary legislation 
to implement recommendations.