Resolve, To Increase Safety for Domestic Abuse Victims
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1245
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: BARSTOW, HOBBINS, BISHOP, BURNS, CAIN, FARRINGTON, GROSE, PATRICK, PELLETIER-SIMPSON, SA VIELLO

Legislative Document 
No. 1245 
H.P.863 
House of Representatives, March 10,2005 
Resolve, To Increase Safety for Domestic Abuse Victims 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BARSTOW of Gorham. 
Cosponsored by Senator HOBBINS of York and 
7J1~ 
1J7. 771p£~ 
Mll..LICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BISHOP of Boothbay, BURNS of Berwick, CAIN of Orono, FARRINGTON 
of Gorham, GROSE of Woolwich, PATRICK of Rumford, PELLETIER-SIMPSON of 
Auburn, SA VIELLO of Wilton. 
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 directs the Office of the Attorney 
General and the Department of Public Safety to review unfunded 
mandates: and 
Whereas, the 
review must 
be initiated before the 
gO-day 
period expires in order that the review may be completed and a 
report prepared 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. Conduct study. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney General and the Department of Public Safety, referred to 
in this resolve as "the working group," shall work together to 
study ways to increase safety for domestic abuse victims. 
In 
conducting its study, the working group shall: 
1. 
Study and recommend ways 
procedures more consistent among 
enforcement agencies: 
to make search 
state, 
county and 
and seizure 
local 
law 
2. 
abusers: 
Study the 
laws governing gun possession by domestic 
3. 
Develop procedures for counseling abusers: and 
4. 
Review 
the protection 
from 
abuse 
order process 
and 
recommend ways to amend it: and be it further 
Sec. 2. Participation of other entities. Resolved: 
That the working 
group may seek information from all related state agencies; and 
be it further 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 7, 
2005, the working group shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd 
Legislature. 
In its proposed legislation, the working group may 
include proposals to amend laws to strengthen gun control, to 
speed 
up 
the process 
of protection orders 
and 
to 
make 
the 
application process easier for individuals filing a protection 
-, 
from abuse order. 
legislation. 
The working group is authorized to introduce 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Office of the Attorney General and 
the Department of Public Safety to study ways to increase safety 
for domestic abuse victims and to submit a report to the Second 
Regular Session of the l22nd Legislature by December 7, 2005.