An Act To Establish Veterans Treatment Courts
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1698
Committee Amendment CA_A_H729 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1250, L.D. 1698, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish Veterans Treatment Courts" 
Amend the bill in the emergency preamble in the 7th paragraph in the 3rd line (page 
l, line 25 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "possible" the following: ',if involved 
in the criminal justice system,' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 4 MRS A c. 8-B is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER8-B 
VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS 
§433. Veterans treatment courts 
1. 
Definition. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
"veterans treatment court" means a specialized sentencing docket in select criminal cases 
in which the defendant is a veteran or member of the United States Armed Forces to 
enable veterans agencies and social services agencies to provide treatment for that 
defendant. 
The court does not provide treatment but contracts or collaborates with 
experienced and expert treatment providers. 
2. Chief Justice may establish. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court 
may establish veterans treatment courts for veterans and members of the United States 
Armed Forces. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court 
rules of practice and procedure as necessary. 
3. 
Federal funding; contracts; cooperative agreements. 
The State Court 
Administrator, district attorneys, the Department of the Attorney General, the Department 
of Corrections, the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, the 
Department of Public Safety, the Department of Health and Human Services and private 
service agencies may seek federal funding as it becomes available for the establishment, 
maintenance and expansion of veterans treatment courts and for the provision by 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~, to H.P. 1250, L.D. 1698 
participating agencies of treatment to participating veterans. The Administrative Office 
of the Courts may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with the departments 
and agencies to provide treatment and other social services to participants. 
The 
departments and agencies shall collaborate and, to the extent possible, provide financial 
and other assistance to the judicial branch in order to establish and maintain veterans 
treatment courts.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment revises the emergency preamble to clarify that the bill provides help 
for veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system. 
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish veterans treatment 
courts, which are specialized sentencing dockets in select criminal cases in which the 
defendant is a veteran or a member of the United States Armed Forces. The specialized 
dockets will enable veterans agencies and social service agencies to provide treatment for 
that defendant. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court 
rules of practice as necessary. 
The State Court Administrator as well as other state departments and social service 
agencies may seek federal funding for the veterans treatment courts. The treatment is not 
provided by the courts but by participating social service agencies and government 
departments. 
The bill as amended is presented in the memory of former Army Ranger Justin 
Crowley-Smilek of Farmington, a decorated combat veteran who received both the 
National Defense Service Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal and who 
served his country in Afghanistan. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02121112 frac 
LD 1698 
LR 2435(02) 
An Act To Establish Veterans Treatment Courts 
F;""l Note fo, nm a, Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" (fl· 7 d.. 9 \ 
Committee: Judiciary 
1) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential cost increase - Federal Expenditures Fund 
Potential revenue increase - Federal Expenditures Fund 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
This bill authorizes various state agencies to pursue federal funding to establish, maintain and expand veterans 
treatment courts. The permissive language of the bill does not require the Judicial Department to establish the 
veterans treatment courts. It is unlikely the Judicial Department will move forward with this initiative without having 
secured adequate federal funding. Therefore, no significant General Fund costs are anticipated. 
LR2435(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1