An Act To Promote Legal Services in Rural Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0929
Committee Amendment CA_A_H147 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,4" to H.P. 704, L.D. 929, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote Legal Services in Rural Maine" 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of §I2901 (page 1, lines 5 to 10 in 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§12901. Attorneys for Maine Program 
The Attorneys for Maine Program is established to provide financial assistance for 
legal education for up to 5 law students per year pursuing juris doctor degrees from the 
University of Maine School of Law and who agree to provide return service in the State. 
The chief executive officer shall administer the program and shall establish pursuant to 
rules of the authority the rates of interest or fees to be charged.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 12902 by striking out all of subsections 5 to 7 (page 1, 
lines 21 to 27 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'5. Participating school. "Participating school" means any accredited institution of 
higher education. 
6. Public service. "Public service" means service as an employee or as a contracted 
service provider for a governmental agency in the State or a private, nonprofit corporation 
with a public purpose under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3) 
in the State. 
7. Return service. "Return service" means service as a licensed attorney practicing 
law in an underserved area of the State and maintaining residency in the underserved area 
in which the service is performed. 
8. Underserved area. "Underserved area" means any of those areas of the State for 
which there are an insufficient number of attorneys providing legal services as may be 
determined by the chief executive officer after consultation with the Maine State Bar 
Association, or its successor, and other appropriate agencies.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT.,4-.. to H.P. 704, L.D. 929 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 12903 by striking out all of subsections 1 to 3 (page 
1, lines 30 to 32 and page 2, lines 1 to 20 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'1. 
Criteria for loan recipients. 
Each year Maine residents within 4 years 
subsequent to graduation from a participating school who have been accepted for 
admission to the law school and show evidence of academic achievement may be 
considered for recognition as Attorneys for Maine Program loan recipients. 
Special 
consideration must be given to applicants who are graduates from a baccalaureate 
program at a campus within the University of Maine System. Applications must be 
submitted to the chief executive officer at a time and in a format to be determined by rule 
of the authority. The chief executive officer in collaboration with the dean of the law 
school or the dean's designee shall adopt rules to establish criteria for the selection of loan 
recipients under this chapter. 
2. Governor. The Governor, after consultation with the chief executive officer and 
the dean of the law school, or the dean's designee, shall announce the names of those 
individuals selected by the dean of the law school or the dean's designee and the chief 
executive officer to be Attorneys for Maine Program loan recipients.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of § 12905 (page 2, lines 27 to 37 in 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§1290S. Payment provisions 
Payment of a loan granted under this chapter must be made directly to the law school 
for credit to the student's account and be made within 60 days following evidence that the 
student has become duly enrolled at the law school. The loan must be used only to 
substitute or replace the family contribution or an interest-accruing loan. A loan recipient 
may not receive student financial assistance for tuition in excess of the cost of attendance 
not including room, board and other nontuition expenses. If a recipient of a loan 
withdraws from the law school and if the law school refunds in whole or in part tuition, 
fees or other charges to which the student is entitled, the law school shall pay such refund 
directly to the authority.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 12906 in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 3, line 2 in 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "in an underserved area" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE 
Attorneys for Maine Program NOlO 
Initiative: Provides funds for loans under the Attorneys for Maine Program. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2007-08 
$90,750 
$90,750 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2008-09 
$199,650 
$199,650 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT :A-" 
to H.P. 704, L.D. 929 
Attorneys for Maine Program NOlO 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for the Finance Authority of Maine to administer the 
Attorneys for Maine Program. 
GENERAL FUND . 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
SUMMARY 
2007-08 
$23,300 
$23,300 
2007-08 
$114,050 
$114,050 
2008-09 
$5,000 
$5,000 
2008-09 
$204,650 
$204,650 
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Education 
and Cultural Affairs. 
The amendment provides for the following changes to the 
Attorneys for Maine Program as presented in the bill. 
1. It provides that up to 5 law students per year at the University of Maine School of 
Law may be selected as loan recipients under Attorneys for Maine Program. 
2. It provides that special consideration for prospective loan recipients under the 
Attorneys for Maine Program may be made for law students at the University of Maine 
School of Law for those students who have received baccalaureate degrees from any of 
the University of Maine System campuses and not just the University of Maine campuses 
at Presque Isle, Machias, Fort Kent and Farmington. 
3. It amends the definition of "underserved area" to require consultation with the 
Maine State Bar Association. 
4. It incorporates a definition of "public service" as necessitated by the provision in 
the bill regarding a loan recipient who fails to obtain a license to practice law in the State. 
5. It changes the appropriations and allocations section of the bill by providing for 
ongoing funds for the Finance Authority of Maine to administer the program created in 
the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04111107 Mac.. 
LD929 
LR 1348(02) 
An Act To Promote Legal Services in Rural Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A " 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$114,050 
$114,050 
2008-09 
$204,650 
$204,650 
Projections 
2009-10 
$204,650 
$204,650 
Projections 
2010-11 
$204,650 
$204,650 
This bill includes total General Fund appropriations of $114,050 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $204,650 in fiscal year 
2008-09 for the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) to establish and administer the Attorneys for Maine program. 
Ofthe total, $90,750 is appropriated in fiscal year 2007-08 and $199,650 in fiscal year 2008-09 to provide loans for up 
to 5 law students per year at the University of Maine School of Law. The Attorneys for Maine Program Fund is 
established as a nonlapsing, interest earning, revolving fund under the jurisdiction of FAME. 
The remaining $23,300 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $5,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 is appropriated to 
FAME for the costs associated with the initial start-up and ongoing administration of the Attorneys for Maine 
program. Although this legislation does allow FAME to utilize interest income from the Attorneys for Maine Program 
Fund to pay for the costs of administering the program, it is unclear whether there will be sufficient interest earnings 
to cover FAME's administrative costs. 
LR1348(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I