An Act To Provide Additional Deductions from a Sentence of Imprisonment for Completion of Education, Mental Health Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1415
Committee Amendment CA_A_H719 (House)
Amends: 17-A MRSA §1253-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 973, L.D. 1415, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Additional Deductions from a Sentence of Imprisonment for Completion of 
Education, Mental Health Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and insetting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1253-A is enacted to read: 
§1253-A. 
Earned deductions for educational achievement and completion of 
treatment 
1. Subject to the limitation set forth in subsection 3, in addition to any of the other 
deductions available under this chapter and in accordance with the provisions of this 
section, any person sentenced on or after January 1, 2019 to a term of imprisonment and 
committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections, notwithstanding that the 
crime for which the person was sentenced may have been committed before January 1, 
2019, may receive earned deductions for the educational achievements and completions 
of treatment specified in subsection 2. 
A. Subject to the limitation in paragraph D, the earned deductions authorized under 
this section must be applied to the sentence or sentences of imprisonment controlling 
the person's release date at the time the deductions are awarded in a manner that 
accords the person the full benefit of the deductions awarded, except that the earned 
deductions authorized under this section may not be applied to any sentence imposed 
before January 1, 2019. 
B. 
The earned deductions specified in subsection 2, paragraphs A to E are not 
cumulative and may be awarded only for the highest specified level of educational 
achievement attained by a person during the sentence or sentences of imprisonment 
controlling the person's release date. 
C. The earned deduction specified in subsection 2, paragraph F may be awarded in 
addition to any other earned deduction that may be awarded pursuant to subsection 2, 
paragraphs A to E, G and H. 
The earned deduction specified in subsection 2, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,1 
1· .• \· 2 
22. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 973, L.D. 1415 
paragraph G may be awarded in addition to any other earned deduction that may be 
awarded pursuant to subsection 2, paragraphs A to F and H. The earned deduction 
specified in subsection 2, paragraph H may be awarded in addition to any other 
earned deduction that may be awarded pursuant to subsection 2, paragraphs A to G. 
D. The earned deductions authorized under this section may not exceed 25% of any 
sentence to which the deductions are to be applied. 
E. The earned deductions awarded to a person pursuant to this section may be later 
withdrawn by the Department of Corrections for serious disciplinary offenses 
specified by the department by rule and for violations of criminal law and, if 
withdrawn, may be restored by the department if the person's later conduct, 
participation in programs and fulfillment of assigned responsibilities are such that the 
restoration is warranted. 
F. With respect to the earned deductions specified in subsection 2, paragraphs A to 
C, a person may receive a partial award of the specified earned deduction based upon 
the extent to which credits applicable to the specified educational achievement were 
earned by the person prior to the imposition of the sentence or sentences of 
imprisonment controlling the person's release date. A partial award of a specified 
earned deduction may not be less than 20% of a full award of the earned deduction. 
A person may not receive a partial award of the earned deductions specified in 
subsection 2, paragraphs D to H. 
2. The earned deductions authorized under this section for educational achievements 
and completions of treatment are as follows: 
A. For achievement by an eligible person of a bachelor's degree from an accredited 
institution of higher education, a deduction of 216 days from the person's sentence; 
B. For achievement by an eligible person of an associate degree from an accredited 
institution of higher education, a deduction of 108 days from the person's sentence; 
C. 
For achievement by an eligible person of an adult high school diploma, a 
deduction of 3 6 days from the person's sentence; 
D. 
For completion by an eligible person of a general high school eguivalency 
diploma or test authorized and approved by the Department of Corrections, a 
deduction of36 days from the person's sentence; 
E. For completion by an eligible person of a vocational, career or technical training 
program authorized and approved by the Department of Corrections, a deduction of 
days from the person's sentence; 
F. For completion by an eligible person of a course of mental health programming 
and treatment recommended or approved by the Department of Corrections and 
specifically recommended for the person by clinical treatment staff of the department, 
a deduction of 18 days from the person's sentence; 
G. For completion by an eligible person of a course of substance abuse programming 
and treatment recommended or approved by the Department of Corrections and 
specifically recommended for the person by clinical treatment staff of the department, 
a deduction of 18 days from the person's sentence; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'~ "to H.P. 973, L.D. 1415 
H. 
For completion by an eligible person of a course of cognitive-behavioral 
treatment recommended or approved by the Department of Corrections and 
specifically recommended for the person by clinical treatment staff of the department, 
a deduction of 18 days from the person's sentence. 
3. Deductions under this section may not be applied to the sentence of a person who 
commits: 
A. Murder; 
B. A crime under chapter 11; 
C. A crime under section 556; 
D. A crime under section 854, excluding subsection 1, paragraph A. subparagraph 
m 
E. A crime under chapter 12; or 
F. A crime against a family or household member under chapter 9 or 13 or section 
506-B, 554, 555 or 758. As used in this paragraph, "family or household member" 
has the same meaning as in Title 19-A, section 4002, subsection 4. 
4. The Department of Corrections shall adopt rules governing the administration and 
award. withdrawal and restoration of the earned deductions authorized under this section. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 1 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill and 
authorizes a person sentenced on or after January 1, 2019 and committed to the custody 
of the Department of Corrections to earn deductions for certain specified educational 
achievements and completions of treatment. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/20/18 feac.. 
LD 1415 
LR 2058(02) 
An Act To Provide Additional Deductions from a Sentence of Imprisonment for Completion of 
Education, Mental Health Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs ') \ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '/f' [/-1-1 f 9) 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium savings - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Savings to the Department of Corrections as a result of reduced sentences from the completion of education 
achievement and treatment programs could be significant over time. The amount and timing of these savings in any 
given fiscal year will depend on participation in the programs and cannot be determined at this time. 
LR2058(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1