An Act To Provide Supplemental Appropriations and Deappropriations for the Judicial Department for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1597
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: HOBBINS
Amends: 4 MRSA §1556

Legislative Document 
No. 1597 
H.P. 1087 
House of Representatives, February 23, 2016 
An Act To Provide Supplemental Appropriations and 
Deappropriations for the Judicial Department for the Fiscal Years 
Ending June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HOBBINS of Saco. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the 90-day period may not terminate until after the beginning of the next 
fiscal year; and 
Whereas, this legislation provides adjustments to appropriations from the General 
Fund for certain expenditures of the judicial branch for the fiscal years ending June 30, 
2016 and June 30, 2017; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  4 MRSA §1556, sub-§2, ¶I is enacted to read: 
I.  The hourly rate of compensation for the guardian ad litem may not be less than the 
rate of compensation established by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal 
Services pursuant to section 1804, subsection 3, paragraph F.  Nothing in this 
paragraph prohibits the court from establishing maximum fees and other reasonable 
requirements relating to guardian ad litem billing and compensation. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative:  Provides funding for the child protective guardian ad litem hourly rate increase 
from $50 per hour to $60 per hour to be consistent with the rate paid to attorneys 
appointed to represent parents. 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative:  Provides funding for the increase in hours from a 37.5-hour workweek to a 40-
hour workweek for the administrative bargaining unit, remaining employees in the 
professional and supervisory bargaining units and confidential nonmanagement 
employees. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$0
$443,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$443,000
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative:  Provides funding for the increase in the executive branch network charges 
based on current users. 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative:  Deappropriates funds no longer needed for courthouse feasibility studies. 
Judicial - Debt Service Z097 
Initiative:  Deappropriates funds no longer needed for debt service costs. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$0
$770,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$770,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$93,776
$93,776
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$93,776
$93,776
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
($215,000)
$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
($215,000)
$0
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
($400,000)
($1,300,000)
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
($400,000)
($1,300,000)
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2015-16
2016-17
GENERAL FUND 
($521,224)
$6,776
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
($521,224)
$6,776
SUMMARY 
This bill provides an hourly rate increase for guardians ad litem and makes the 
following adjustments to appropriations from the General Fund for certain expenditures 
of the judicial branch for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017. 
1.  It provides funding for the guardian ad litem hourly rate increase from $50 per 
hour to $60 per hour to be consistent with the rate paid to court-appointed counsel. 
2.  It provides funding for an increase in the workweek of certain judicial branch 
employees from 37.5 hours per week to 40 hours per week. 
3.  It provides funding for an increase in fees charged by the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services, Office of Information Technology to the judicial 
branch. 
4.  It deappropriates unused feasibility study funds. 
5.  It deappropriates funds no longer needed for debt services.