Resolve, to Improve Community Safety and Sex Offender Accountability
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0372
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: COLWELL, ROTUNDO, LERMAN, MAILHOT, O'BRIEN, SUSLOVIC, DAGGETT, GAGNON, MAYO

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 372 
H.P.292 
House of Representatives, January 30,2003 
Resolve, to Improve Community Safety and Sex Offender 
Accountability 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner. 
Cosponsored by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin and 
1J1~ 
'frl.17J~~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: LERMAN of Augusta, MAILHOT of Lewiston, McNEIL of Rockland, 
O'BRIEN of Lewiston, SUSLOVIC of Portland, Senators: President DAGGETT of Kennebec, 
GAGNON of Kennebec, MAYO of Sagadahoc. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Commission 
to 
Improve 
Community Safety and 
Sex 
Offender Accountability, 
referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of the following 11 members: 
1. 
One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
2. 
Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
One representative of the Department of Corrections, 
appointed by the Commissioner of Corrections; 
4. 
One representative of 
Sex Offender Registry Office, 
Public Safety; 
the Department of Public Safety's 
appointed by the Commissioner of 
5. 
One 
representative 
of 
the 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney 
General, appointed by the Attorney General; 
6. 
Two members appointed by the President of the Senate as 
follows: 
A. 
One representative of a statewide coalition advocating 
for victims of sexual assault; and 
B. 
One representative of people who provide direct support 
services to victims of sexual assault: and 
7. 
Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives as follows: 
A. 
One representative of defense attorneys; 
B. 
One representative of victims of sexual assault; and 
C. 
One 
representative 
of 
enforcement; and be it further 
municipal 
or 
county 
law 
Sec. 3. Appointments; chairs; meetings. Resolved: 
That 
all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The Executive Director of the 
Legislative 
Council 
must 
be 
notified 
by 
all 
appointing 
authorities once 
the selections have 
been made. 
The 
Senate 
member 
is 
the 
Senate 
chair 
and 
the 
first-named 
House 
of 
Representatives 
member 
is 
the 
House 
chair. 
The 
Executive 
Page l-LR0374(1) 
Director of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission no later than 15 days after 
appointments of all members. 
The commission may hold a total of 
meetings, 
one of which may be a public hearing; and be it 
further 
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall invite the 
participation 
of 
experts 
and 
interested 
parties, 
gather 
information and request necessary data from public and private 
entities to examine and recommend any changes to current laws 
governing the sentencing, registration, release and placement of 
sex offenders. 
In conducting its study, the commission shall: 
1. 
Define and establish minimum standards for notification 
and guidelines concerning notification of sex offenders to the 
public; 
2. 
Examine matters concerning the management of offenders, 
including the risk assessment that is currently used to assess 
offenders upon release, 
the necessity of prerelease discharge 
plans 
and 
the 
benefits 
of 
treatment 
while 
in 
corrections 
facilities; and 
3. 
Examine 
issues 
regarding registration, 
including the 
current time period allowed offenders before they must register 
with local law enforcement agencies. 
The 
commission's study may 
include any other issues the 
commission determines appropriate; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and 
be it further 
Sec. 6. 
Compensation. Resolved: 
That 
the 
members 
of 
the 
commission who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative 
per diem, 
as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, 
section 2, and reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred for 
their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission. 
Other 
members of the commission who are not otherwise compensated by 
their 
employers 
or 
other 
entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are 
entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred 
for their attendance at authorized meetings; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Funding. Resolved: 
That the commission may seek 
accept outside funds 
to advance its work. 
Prompt notice 
solicitation 
and 
acceptance 
of 
funds 
must 
be 
sent 
to 
and 
of 
the 
Legislative Council. 
All funds accepted must be forwarded to the 
Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
along with 
an 
accounting record that includes the amount of funds, 
date the 
funds were received, from whom the funds were received and the 
purpose 
and 
any 
limitation 
on 
the 
use 
of 
the 
funds. 
The 
Executive Director of the Legislative Council administers any 
funds received: and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That the commission shall submit a 
report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice 
during the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no 
later than January 
2, 
2004. 
If the 
commission 
requires 
an 
extension of time to complete its report, it may apply to the 
Legislative 
Council, 
which 
may 
grant 
the 
extension. 
The 
commission is authorized to introduce legislation related to its 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature at 
the time of submission of its report; and be it further 
Sec. 
9. 
Budget. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
cochairs 
of 
the 
commission, with assistance from the commission's staff, shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the 
commission shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for approval. 
The 
commission 
may 
not 
incur 
expenses that would result in the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from 
the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative council 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission's budget, expenditures incurred 
and paid and available funds. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission to Improve Community 
Safety and Sex Offender Accountability.