An Act To Authorize a COllli To Appoint a Parenting Coordinator To Assist in Domestic Relations Actions" .
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0643
Committee Amendment CA_A_H459 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 457, L.D. 643, Bill, "An Act To 
Authorize a COllli To Appoint a Parenting Coordinator To Assist in Domestic Relations 
Actions" . 
Amend the bill in section 2 in § 1659 in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph 
A (page 2, lines 1 to 6 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'A. 
"Parenting coordinator" means a neutral 3rd party appointed by the court to 
oversee and resolve disputes that arise between parents in interpreting and 
implementiilg the parenting plan set forth in the court's order and who: 
(1) On July 1, 2009 is listed in the roster of guardians ad litem maintained by the 
Chief Judge of the District Court pursuant to ru'les adopted by the Supreme 
Judicial Court, or who holds one or more of the licenses listed in the rules and is 
listed on the roster after July 1, 2009 after completing the other requirements set 
forth in the rules; and 
(2) Meets any other qualifications and requirements established by the Supreme 
Judicial Court.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in § 1659 in subsection 2 in paragraph B in the last line 
(page 2, line 23 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "parties." the following: 'State 
funds may not be used to pay parenting coordinator fees.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in § 1659 by inserting after subsection 8 the following: 
'9. Repeal. This section is repealed January 1,2014.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the following: 
'Sec. 3. Accountability and complaint process. The Supreme Judicial Court 
may enter into an agreement with a professional organization of guardians ad litem, the 
purpose of which is to improve the practice of guardians ad litem, to establish a process 
to collect and review evaluations and complaints about parenting coordinators established 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 19-A, section 1659. The organization may 
charge the parenting coordinators a fee, approved by the Supreme Judicial Court, for the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to H.P. 457, L.D. 643 
work, but there may not be a cost to the judicial branch. A person who has not paid the 
required fee may not be designated as a parenting coordinator on the guardian ad litem 
roster established by the Supreme Judicial Court. The judicial branch is not required to 
establish a complaint process. 
. 
Beginning in 2010, the organization shall make an annual report by February 1st of 
each year to the Supreme Judicial Court and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters. 
The report must include 
information about comments and complaints regarding parenting coordinators made to 
the organization, any investigation or review undertaken by the organization in response 
to comments and complaints and any recommendations for action by the Supreme 
Judicial Court and the Legislature. 
Sec. 4. Report. Beginning March 1,2010, the Supreme Judicial Court shall submit 
an annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over judiciary matters describing the use of parenting coordinators in domestiC relations 
actions pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 19-A, section 1659. The committee 
may report out legislation relating to parenting coordinators to the 124th Legislature and 
the 125th Legislature based on information and any recommendations in the reports.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes in the bill that establishes the court's 
authority to appoint parenting coordinators. 
1. It clarifies that parenting coordinators may be selected from the guardian ad litem 
roster maintained by the District Court. This avoids the implication that the court would 
be required to establish a roster for parenting coordinators separate from the roster. 
already established for guardians ad litem. It allows the court to establish additional 
requirements for parenting coordinators, but does not requite that such additional 
qualifications be established. 
2. 
It clarifies that no state funds may be used to pay the fees for a parenting 
coordinator. 
3. It provides an automatic repeal date of January 1,.2014. 
4. 
It allows the Supreme Judicial Court to enter into an agreement with a 
professional organization of guardians ad litem to establish a process to deal with 
comments and complaints about parenting coordinators. The organization must report 
annually by February 1st to the Supreme Judicial Court and the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters. This process does not affect 
the parties' rights to appeal the decision of a parenting coordinator to the court. 
5. It requires the Supreme Judicial Court to report annually to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters regarding 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "R " 
tofU. 457, L.D. 643 
parenting coordinators. The committee may report out legislation based on the report to 
the 124th and 125th Legislatures. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMI 'fIE AMENDMENT 
;, 
Approved: 05/01/09 frac:.. 
LD643 
LR 828(02) 
An Act To Authorize a Court To Appoint a Parenting Coordinator To Assist in Domestic Relations 
Actions 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The additional costs to the Judicial Branch to report on the use of parenting coordinators can be absorbed utilizing 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR0828(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
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