Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study and Design a Child Protection Mediation System
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1067
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: MITCHELL, PELLETIER-SIMPSON, BARTLETT, BROMLEY, HOBBINS, BRYANT-DESCHENES

Legislative Document 
No. 1067 
S.P.384 
In Senate, March 1, 2005 
Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study and Design a Child 
Protection Mediation System 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MITCHELL of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative PELLETIER-SIMPSON of Auburn and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BARTLETT of Cumberland, BROMLEY of Cumberland, HOBBINS of York, 
Representative: BRYANT-DESCHENES of Turner. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas. acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
gO 
days 
after 
Whereas. this resolve creates the Task Force to Study and 
Design a Child Protection Mediation System; and 
Whereas, the 
study must 
be 
initiated before 
the 
gO-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; 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 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Study and Design a Child Protection Mediation System, referred to 
in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: 
consists of 6 members appointed as follows: 
That the task force 
1. 
One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
J2 
2. 
One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
One member representing the Maine State Bar Association, 
appointed by the President of the Senate; 
4. 
The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; 
5. 
The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human 
Services or the commissioner's designee; and 
6. 
The Director of Court Alternative Dispute Resolution 
Services or the director's designee; and be it further 
The 
task force 
shall 
ask 
the 
Chief Justice 
Judicial Court to designate a 
judge from the 
Court to act as an advisor to the task force. 
of 
the 
Supreme 
Supreme Judicial 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Senate 
member 
is the 
Senate chair of the task force and the House of Representatives 
member is the House chair of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall hold 
meetings at various locations in the State, to be determined by 
the chairs. 
The task force shall: 
1. 
Design a child protective mediation system; 
2. 
Recommend qualifications for mediators; 
3. 
Identify 
a 
stable 
funding 
source 
for 
the 
child 
protective mediation system; and 
4. 
Identify and discuss other issues relevant to designing 
the system; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the task force are entitled to receive the legislative per 
diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 
2, 
and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses 
related to their attendance at authorized meetings of the task 
force. 
Public 
members 
not 
otherwise 
compensated 
by 
their 
employers or other enti ties that they represent are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement 
of 
necessary 
expenses 
and, 
upon 
a 
demonstration of financial hardship, 
a 
per diem equal to the 
legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings 
of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 1, 
2005, 
the task force shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the 
l22nd 
Legislature. 
The 
task 
force 
is 
authorized 
to 
introduce 
legislation related to its report to the Second Regular Session 
of the l22nd Legislature at the time of submission of its report; 
and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the task force requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Task force budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
task force, 
with assistance from the task force staff, shall 
administer the task force' s budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the task force shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
task force may not incur expenses that would result in the task 
force' s 
exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the 
task force, 
the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the task force chairs and staff with a 
status report on the task force budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve creates the Task Force to Study and Design a 
Child Protection Mediation System. 
The task force shall submit a 
report to the Second Regular Session of the l22nd Legislature by 
December 1, 2005.