An Act To Provide Additional Authority to the State Board of Corrections
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1824
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: GERZOFSKY, DION, BURNS, DUTREMBLE, HILL, PLUMMER, CROCKETT, LAJOIE, PLANTE, PRIEST
Amends: 34-A MRSA §1803

Legislative Document 
No. 1824 
S.P. 730 
In Senate, March 18, 2014 
An Act To Provide Additional Authority to the State Board of 
Corrections 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator GERZOFSKY of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative DION of Portland and 
Senators: BURNS of Washington, DUTREMBLE of York, HILL of York, PLUMMER of 
Cumberland, Representatives: CROCKETT of Bethel, LAJOIE of Lewiston, PLANTE of 
Berwick, PRIEST of Brunswick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  34-A MRSA §1803, sub-§§12 and 13 are enacted to read: 
12.  Establish a funding formula for county jails.  The board shall establish an 
essential programs and services funding formula for county jails to ensure that all jails 
have the programs and resources that are essential.  The formula must take into account, 
at a minimum, the number of inmates housed in each jail. 
13.  Funding oversight.  The board may: 
A.  Approve the budget of each county jail and approve or replace individual line 
items in each budget; 
B.  Review management decisions concerning staffing and the use of overtime with 
each county jail administrator and sheriff and establish staffing levels and use of 
overtime that best provide for a unified, efficient and highly coordinated correctional 
system; 
C.  Withhold state funds from a county jail that fails to comply with a decision of the 
board; and 
D.  Rescind county jail employee salary and wage increases and funding for county 
jail expenditures that exceed levels approved by the board. 
Sec. 2.  Review the management of county jails in other states.  The State 
Board of Corrections shall review county jail management models in other states to 
determine whether there is a more efficient, effective and lower-cost model than the 
existing county jail management system in the State.  By January 1, 2015, the board shall 
submit a report based on its review to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters.  The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters may submit a bill based on 
the report to the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
Sec. 3.  Essential programs and services funding formula; report.  By 
January 1, 2015, the State Board of Corrections shall submit a report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters related to 
the establishment of an essential programs and services funding formula pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-A, section 1803, subsection 12.  The report must include 
any suggested legislation necessary for the implementation of that subsection.  The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters 
may submit a bill based on the report to the First Regular Session of the 127th 
Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the State Board of Corrections to establish an essential programs and 
services funding formula for county jails and to review county jail management models in 
other states.  The bill also authorizes the board to: 
1.  Approve the budget of each county jail in the State; 
2.  Review management decisions concerning county jail staffing and the use of 
overtime; 
3.  Withhold state funds from a county jail that fails to comply with a decision of the 
board; and 
4.  Rescind county jail employee salary and wage increases and funding for county 
jail expenditures that exceed levels approved by the board.