An Act To Establish a Computer Crimes Unit within the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 2028
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Order S

Legislative Document 
No. 2028 
S.P.779 
In Senate, February 28, 2006 
An Act To Establish a Computer Crimes Unit within the Maine 
State Police Crime Laboratory 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Order S.P. 762 and ordered printed under 
Joint Rule 401. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, in order 
for 
the State 
problem of child pornography and the 
sexual 
abuse 
through the seizure 
and 
computers, 
more 
state 
resources 
must 
purpose; and 
to 
combat 
the 
serious 
related crime of child 
forensic evaluation of 
be 
dedicated 
for 
that 
Whereas, 
able to hire 
aggressively 
resources for 
in order for 
new forensic 
address 
the 
that purpose 
the Department of Public Safety to be 
examiners for the full fiscal year to 
proliferation of 
child pornography, 
must be appropriated immediately: and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec.t. 25 MRSA c. 192-A, as amended, is repealed. 
Sec. 
2. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPAIn'MENT OF 
State Police 
0291 
The 
following 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds for the creation of a 
computer 
crimes unit within the State Police program by establishing 2 
Computer 
Crimes 
Forensic 
Analyst 
positions 
with 
necessary 
operational costs for the unit. 
GENERAL FUND 
2005-06 
2006-07 
POSITIONS -
LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
0.000 
2.000 
Personal Services 
$0 
$60,237 
All Other 
$0 
$50,948 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0 
$111,185 
HIGB1fAY FUND 
2005-06 
2006-07 
Personal Services 
$0 
$102,563 
All Other 
$0 
$86,750 
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL 
$0 
$189,313 
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPAR'.I.'MERT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOrALS 
GENERAL FUND 
HIGmfAY FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOrAL -
ALL FUNDS 
2005-06 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2006-07 
$111,185 
$189,313 
$300,498 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency ci ted in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is proposed by the Joint Standing Committee on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety. 
The bill repeals the Maine 
Computer Crimes Task Force and creates a new Computer Crimes Unit 
to be housed wi thin the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, 
which is part of the State Police Program. 
The Computer Crimes 
Unit will consist of 6 full-time positions, 4 of which already 
exist and 2 that are new. 
The Computer Crimes Unit will continue 
the work of the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force by working 
collaboratively with the Department of the Attorney General and 
local law enforcement agencies for the purposes of investigation 
and assisting all law enforcement agencies in crimes involving 
computers.