An Act To Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals from Possessing Firearms
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1884
Committee Amendment CA_A_S488 (Senate)
Amends: 25 MRSA §2804-C, 15 MRSA §393, 34-B MRSA §3873-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884, Bill, "An Act To 
Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals 
from Possessing Firearms" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'PART A 
Sec. A-1. 15 MR.SA c. 16 is enacted to read: 
§401. Definitions 
CHAPTER16 
COMMUNITY PROTECTION ORDERS 
SUBCHAPTER 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Community protection order. "Community protection order" means a vm.tten 
order signed by the court that prohibits and enjoins temporarily, if issued pursuant to 
subchapter 3, or on an extended basis, if issued pursuant to subchapter 5, a named 
individual from having a firearm in that individual's custody or control or purchasing, 
possessing or receiving or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm. 
2. Family or household member. "Family or household member" means a spouse 
or domestic partner of the subject of a petition under this chapter, a former spouse or 
former domestic partner of the subject of a petition under this chapter or an individual 
presently or formerly living as a spouse of the subject of a petition under this chapter, a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
', <o, 
,:;,_ ~ 
\ . 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 719, L,D. 1884 
parent of a child of the subject of a petition under this chapter, an adult household 
member related by consanguinity or affinity to the subject of a petition under this chapter 
or a minor child of a household member when the subject of a petition under this chapter 
is an adult household member. 
3. High-risk individual. "High-risk individual" means an individual who presents 
an immediate and present danger of serious bodily injury or death to the individual or to 
another individual and is the subject of evidence that would give rise to a reasonable 
belief that the individual has a propensity for violent or emotionally unstable conduct. 
The fact that an individual has been released from a mental health facility or has a mental 
illness that is currently controlled by medication does not establish that the individual 
presents an immediate and present danger of serious bodily injury or death to the 
individual or to another individual for the purposes of this chapter. 
4. Restrained individual. "Restrained individual" means an individual who is the 
subject of a community protection order. 
SUBCHAPTER 3 
ISSUE OF TEMPORARY COMMUNITY PROTECTION ORDERS 
§411. Petition 
A law enforcement officer or a family or household member of a high-risk individual 
may file a petition requesting that the court issue a temporary community protection order 
prohibiting and enjoining the high-risk individual who is the subject of the petition from 
having in that individual's custody or control or purchasing, possessing or receiving a 
firearm or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm. 
§412. Procedure for issuance of temporary community protection order 
1. Grounds. Following review of a petition filed pursuant to section 411. a court 
may issue a temporary community protection order only if the court finds by clear and 
convincing evidence that there is cause to believe both of the following: 
A. The subject of the petition is a high-risk individual; and 
B. A temporary community protection order is necessary to prevent serious bodily 
injury or death to the subject of the petition or to another person. 
2. 
Evidence. 
In determining whether grounds for issuance of a temporary 
community protection order exist, the court shall consider all relevant evidence, including 
but not limited to evidence of the following: 
A. A recent threat or act of violence by the subject of the petition directed toward the 
subject of the petition or another person; 
B. The history of use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force by the 
subject of the petition against another person; 
C. A violation by the subject of the petition of a protection from abuse order issued 
pursuant to Title 19-A, chapter 101, including a temporary protection from abuse 
order; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
& <o· 
<0, 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
D. A violation by the subject of the petition of a community protection order issued 
pursuant to this chapter, including a temporary community protection order; 
E. The criminal history of the subject of the petition, including whether the subject of 
the petition has been convicted of a crime involving domestic violence. For the 
purposes of this paragraph, "crime involving domestic violence" includes but is not 
limited to domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, 
domestic violence terrorizing, domestic violence stalking or domestic violence 
reckless conduct as defined in Title 17-A; 
F. Excessive alcohol or drug use by the subject of the petition; 
G. The unlawful and reckless use, display or brandishing of a firearm by the subject 
of the petition; and 
H. Recent acquisition of firearms, ammunition or other deadly weapons by the 
subject of the petition. 
For the purposes of this subsection, "recent" means within the 6 months prior to the filing 
of the petition. 
3. Testimony or affidavit under oath. 
The court, before issuing a temporary 
community protection order, shall examine under oath the petitioner and any witness the 
petitioner may produce after informing the petitioner and any witness that false testimony 
made under oath is perjury, as defined in Title 17-A, section 451, and is a Class C crime. 
In lieu of examining the petitioner and witness, the court may require the petitioner and 
witness to submit written affidavits signed under oath. An affidavit supporting a petition 
for the issuance of a temporary community protection order must set forth the facts 
tending to establish the grounds of the petition or the reason for believing that the 
grounds exist. 
4. 
Determination on same day. 
The court shall issue or deny a temporary 
community protection order on the day that the petition is submitted to the court. 
5. Ex parte order. The court may issue a temporary community protection order on 
an ex parte basis. 
§413. Contents of order 
A temporary community protection order issued pursuant to this subchapter must 
include all of the following: 
1. Grounds. 
The finding of facts by the court supporting the issuance of the 
temporary community protection order; 
2. 
Hearing. 
The date, time and place at which a hearing on the temporary 
community protection order will be held pursuant to section 421; and 
3. Notice. The following notice: 
"To (name ofrestrained individual): A hearing will be held, in the District Court, on the 
question whether the District Court should issue an extended community protection order 
against you. You are required to surrender all firearms that you possess in accordance 
with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 15, section 414 and you may not have a firearm in 
your custody or control or purchase, possess or receive or attempt to purchase or receive a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~· "'Cb· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"{\" to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
firearm while this order is in effect. You may seek the advice of an attorney as to any 
matter connected with the order." 
§414. Effect of temporary community protection order; surrender of firearm 
1. 
Effect. 
A temporary community protection order prohibits and enjoins the 
restrained individual from having a firearm in the restrained individual's custody or 
control or purchasing, possessing or receiving or attempting to purchase or receive a 
firearm. 
The temporary community protection order also must direct the restrained 
individual to surrender to a local law enforcement agency all firearms in the restrained 
individual's custody or control or that the restrained individual possesses. 
2. Search warrant. The court may concurrently or subsequently issue a search 
warrant authorizing a law enforcement officer to seize any firearms that there is probable 
cause to believe that the restrained individual possesses. 
This subsection does not 
authorize a law enforcement officer to perform a warrantless search or seizure if a 
warrant would otherwise be required. 
3. Surrender of firearm. A restrained individual subject to a temporary community 
protection order and upon request of a law enforcement officer shall immediately 
surrender all firearms in a safe manner to the control of the officer. 
§415. Term of order 
A temporary community protection order expires 14 days from the date the order is 
issued. 
§416. Law enforcement officer responsibilities 
Following the issuance of a temporary community protection order by a court 
pursuant to this subchapter, the court shall order a law enforcement officer to serve the 
community protection order. The law enforcement officer shall: 
1. Serve order. Serve the temporary community protection order on the restrained 
individual as soon as practicable after issuance if the restrained individual can reasonably 
be located; 
2. 
File with court. 
File with the court a copy of the temporary community 
protection order and an inventory of all firearms surrendered as a result of the service of 
the temporary community protection order and all firearms seized as a result of a search 
warrant issued pursuant to section 414, subsection 2 as soon as practicable after the 
surrender or seizure of the firearms; and 
3, Database. Have the temporary community protection order entered into the 
database for protection orders maintained by the Department of Public Safety. 
SUBCHAPTER 5 
ISSUE OF EXTENDED COMMUNITY PROTECTION ORDERS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
<;} ~· 
~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
§421. Hearing 
1. 
Time for hearing. 
Within 14 days after the date upon which a restrained 
individual is served a temporary community protection order, the District Court shall hold 
a hearing to determine if an extended community protection order should be issued. 
2. Grounds. At a hearing under this section, a petitioner has the burden of proving 
by clear and convincing evidence that both of the following are true: 
A. The restrained individual is a high-risk individual; and 
B. A community protection order is necessary to reduce the probability of substantial 
bodily injury to the restrained individual or another individual. 
3. 
Evidence. 
In determining whether grounds for issuance of an extended 
community protection order exist, the court shall consider all relevant evidence, including 
but not limited to evidence of the factors specified in section 412, subsection 2. 
4. Representation of petitioner. The prosecutor shall represent a petitioner at a 
hearing conducted pursuant to this section. 
§422. Extended community protection order 
1. Issue. If the court finds that a petitioner has met the burden of proof under section 
421, subsection 2, the court shall issue an extended community protection order 
prohibiting a restrained individual from having in that individual's custody or control or 
purchasing, possessing or receiving or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm. The 
court may concurrently or subsequently issue a search warrant authorizing a law 
enforcement officer to seize any firearms that there is probable cause to believe that the 
restrained individual possesses. This subsection does not authorize a law enforcement 
officer to perform a warrantless search or seizure if a warrant would otherwise be 
required. 
2. 
Term. 
An extended community protection order issued pursuant to this 
subchapter expires 180 days from the date the order is issued. 
3. 
Contents. An extended community protection order issued pursuant to this 
subchapter must include the following: 
A. 
The findings of fact by the court supporting the issuance of the extended 
community protection order; 
B. The date that the order expires; and 
C. The following notice: 
"To (name of restrained individual): You are required to surrender all firearms that 
you possess in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 15, section 422 and 
you may not have a firearm in your custody or control or purchase, possess or receive 
or attempt to purchase or receive a firearm while this order is in effect. You may seek 
the advice of an attorney as to any matter connected with the order." 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~,, 
<s-S· 
'33 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to S.P. 719, LD. 1884 
§423. Law enforcement officer responsibilities 
Following the issuance of an extended community protection order bv a court 
pursuant to this subchapter, a law enforcement officer must be directed to serve the 
community protection order. The law enforcement officer shall: 
1. Serve order. Serve the extended community protection order on the restrained 
individual as soon as practicable after issuance if the restrained individual can reasonably 
be located; 
2. File with court. File with the court a copy of the extended community protection 
order and an inventory of all firearms surrendered as a result of the service of the 
extended community protection order and all firearms seized as a result of a search 
warrant issued pursuant to section 422, subsection 1 as soon as practicable after the 
surrender or seizure of the firearms; and 
3. 
Database. 
Have the extended community protection order entered into the 
database for protection orders maintained by the Department of Public Safety. 
§424. Dissolution of community protection order 
1. Dissolution of temporary community protection order after hearing. If the 
court fmds at a hearing under section 421 that there is not clear and convincing evidence 
to support the issuance of an extended community protection order, the court shall 
dissolve any temporary community protection order in effect and may not issue an 
extended community protection order. If a temporary community protection order is 
dissolved pursuant to this subsection, the court shall direct a law enforcement agency to 
enter the fact that the order was dissolved into the database for protection orders 
maintained by the Department of Public Safety. 
2. 
Dissolution of extended community protection order after hearing. 
A 
restrained individual may submit one written request for a hearing to dissolve an 
extended community protection order issued pursuant to section 422. If the court finds 
after hearing that the restrained individual has demonstrated by clear and convincing 
evidence that the grounds for issuance of an extended community protection order set 
forth in section 421, subsection 2 no longer exist, the court shall dissolve the extended 
community protection order. If an extended community protection order is dissolved 
pursuant to this subsection, the court shall direct a law enforcement agency to enter the 
fact that the order was dissolved into the database for protection orders maintained by the 
Department of Public Safety. 
SUBCHAPTER 7 
RETENTION AND RETURN OF FIREARM 
§431. Retention and return of firearm 
1. Firearms retained by law enforcement agency. A law enforcement agency 
shall retain any firearm surrendered to or seized by a law enforcement officer or law 
enforcement agency pursuant to this chapter in accordance with this section. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~· 
~· 
COM:MITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
2. Return of firearm. Upon the latter of the expiration or dissolution of a temporary 
community protection order and the dissolution or expiration of an extended community 
protection order, the law enforcement agency shall return any firearm surrendered by or 
seized from a restrained individual to the restrained individual. If a family or household 
member of the restrained individual petitioned for the expired or dissolved community 
protection order, the law enforcement agency must provide prior notice of the return of 
the firearm to that family or household member. The law enforcement agency may 
dispose of an unclaimed firearm in accordance with Title 25, section 3503-A. 
3. Law enforcement agency duties; liability. The duties and liability of a law 
enforcement agency with respect to the safe handling and storage of firearms surrendered 
or seized pursuant to this chapter are governed by Title 25, section 2804-C, subsection 
2-C. 
4. Return to other claimant. If a person other than a restrained individual claims 
title to a firearm surrendered or seized pursuant to this chapter and the person is 
determined by the law enforcement agency that has custody of the firearm to be the 
lawful owner of the firearm, the law enforcement agency shall return the firearm to that 
person. 
§441. Offense 
SUBCHAPTER 9 
OFFENSE 
An individual who possesses a firearm knowing that the individual is prohibited from 
doing so by a temporary community protection order issued pursuant to subchapter 3 or 
an extended community protection order issued after notice and a hearing pursuant to 
subchapter 5 commits a Class D crime. As part of any sentence, the court shall prohibit 
the individual from having in the individual's custody or control, purchasing, possessing, 
receiving or attempting to purchase or receive a fireann for a 2-year period to commence 
upon the expiration of the community protection order. 
Sec. A-2. 25 MRSA §2804-C, sub-§2-C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 147, §30, is 
fort.1ier amended to read: 
2-C. Receipt of firearms; training; procedure; liability. The Maine Criminal 
Justice Academy shall provide training for municipal, county and state law enforcement 
officers regarding the proper handling, storage, safekeeping and return of firearms and 
firearm accessories received pursuant to a court order under Title 19-A, section 4006, 
subsection 2-A eF~ Title 19-A, section 4007, subsection 1, paragraph A-1 or Title 15, 
chapter 16. Such training must include education concerning the prohibitions on the 
purchase or possession of a frrearm when a protection order has been obtained and 
communication with parties to protection orders concerning such prohibitions. 
In developing materials for training in domestic violence issues, the Maine Criminal 
Justice Academy may consult with a statewide organization involved in advocacy for 
victims of domestic violence and with an organization having statewide membership 
representing the interests of firearms owners. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
(} q,. 
\'v 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT"A" to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
A law enforcement officer who receives custody of a firearm pursuant to Title 19-A, 
section 4006, subsection 2-A Bf~ Title 19-A, section 4007, subsection 1, paragraph A-1 or 
Title 15, chapter 16 shall exercise reasonable care to avoid loss, damage or reduction in 
value of the firearm and may not permanently mark the firearm or fire the firearm unless 
there is reasonable suspicion that the firearm has been used in the commission of a crime. 
Any liability for damage or reduction in value to such a firearm is governed by Title 14, 
chapter 7 41. 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. 15 MRSA §393, sub-§1, ,JE, as amended by PL 2015, c. 470, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
E. Has been: 
(1) Committed involuntarily to a hospital pursuant to an order of the District 
Court under Title 34-B, section 3864 because the person was found to present a 
likelihood of serious harm, as defined under Title 34-B, section 3801, subsection 
4-A, paragraphs A to C; 
(2) Found not criminally responsible by reason of insanity with respect to a 
criminal charge; Bf 
(3) Found not competent to stand trial with respect to a criminal chargea_;__gr 
(4) Ordered to participate in a progressive treatment program pursuant to Title 
34-B, section 3873-A and, as part of that order, directed not to possess firearms 
pursuant to Title 34-B, section 3873-A, subsection 7-A. 
Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; 
Sec. B-2. 34-B MRSA §3873-A, sub-§5, 1A-1 is enacted to read: 
A-1. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the court shall inform the patient 
that if an order is entered pursuant to subsection 7-A, that patient is a prohibited 
person and may not own, possess or have under that person's control a firearm 
pursuant to Title 15, section 393, subsection 1. 
Sec. B-3. 34-B MRSA §3873-A, sub-§§7-A and 7-B are enacted to read: 
7-A. Firearms. If the court directs a patient to follow an individualized treatment 
plan pursuant to subsection 6, the court may also prohibit the patient from possessing a 
firearm, muzzle-loading firearm. bow, crossbow or other dangerous weapon for the 
duration of the treatment plan. If the court prohibits the patient from possessing a 
dangerous weapon other than a firearm, muzzle-loading firearm, bow or crossbow. the 
court shall specify the type of weapon the patient is prohibited from possessing. 
If the court prohibits the patient from possessing a firearm, muzzle-loading firearm, bow, 
crossbow or other dangerous weapon, the court shall notify the patient that possession of 
a firearm by the person is prohibited pursuant to Title 15. section 393. The court also 
shall direct the patient to relinquish, within 24 hours after service of the order on the 
patient or such earlier time as the court specifies in the order, all firearms. muzzle-loading 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
{} Cb, 
'(,· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"(\" to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
firearms, bows, crossbows and specified dangerous weapons in the possession of the 
patient to a law enforcement officer or other individual for the duration of the order. If 
the weapons are relinquished to an individual other than a law enforcement officer, the 
patient must file, within 24 hours after such relinquishment, with the court or local law 
enforcement agency designated in the order a written statement that contains the name 
and address of the individual holding the weapons and a description of all weapons held 
by that individual. 
The duties and liability of a law enforcement agency with respect to firearms surrendered 
pursuant to this subsection are governed by Title 25, section 2804-C, subsection 2-C. 
7-B. 
Transmission of abstract of court ruling to the State Bureau of 
Identification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 1207, a 
court shall transmit to the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State 
Bureau of Identification an abstract of any order issued by the court pursuant to this 
section that includes a prohibition on the possession of a firearm pursuant to subsection 
7-A. The abstract must include: 
A. The name, date of birth and gender of the person who is the subject of the order; 
B. The court's order pursuant to subsection 7-A and the expiration date of that order; 
and 
C. A notation that the person has been notified by the court in accordance with 
subsection 5, paragraph A-1 and subsection 7-A. 
The abstract required by this subsection is confidential and is not a public record as 
defined in Title 1, chapter 13; however, a copy of the abstract may be provided by the 
State Bureau of Identification to a criminal justice agency for legitimate law enforcement 
purposes, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System or to an issuing authority for the purpose of processing concealed firearm 
permit applications. 
For the purposes of this subsection, "criminal justice agency" means a federal, state, 
tribal, district, county or local government agency or any subunit of those entities that 
performs the administration of criminal justice under a statute or executive order and that 
allocates a substantial part of its annual budget to the administration of criminal justice. 
Courts and the Department of the Attorney General are considered criminal justice 
agencies. "Criminal justice agency" also includes any equivalent criminal justice agency 
at any level of Canadian government. 
P.ARTC 
Sec. C-1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative: Appropriates funds on a one-time basis for programming and related 
information technology costs for case management system changes. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
cl\.<~~ 
'<' ~· 
,.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'~ "to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2017-18 
$0 
$0 
2018-19 
$281,000 
$281,000 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. 
Part A of the amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 
1. It limits the categories of individuals who may petition for a community protection 
order to include only a law enforcement officer, a former or current spouse or domestic 
partner of the subject of the petition, an individual who formerly was or currently is living 
with the subject of the petition as a spouse, the parent of a child of the subject of the 
petition and household members related by consanguinity or affinity to the subject of the 
petition. 
2. It changes the definition of "high-risk individual" to remove references to mental 
illness. 
3. It enumerates specific factors that a court must consider when deciding whether to 
issue a temporary or extended community protection order. 
4. It reduces the duration of a temporary community protection order from 21 days to 
days. 
5. It removes the prohibition on ownership of a firearm by a restrained individual but 
continues to prohibit a restrained individual from having a firearm in the individual's 
custody or control or purchasing, possessing or receiving or attempting to purchase or 
receive a firearm. 
6. It authorizes the court to issue a search warrant authorizing a law enforcement 
officer to seize any firearms that there is probable cause to believe the restrained 
individual possesses either concurrently with or subsequent to issuance of a temporary or 
extended community protection order. 
7. It permits an individual restrained by an extended community protection order to 
submit one written request to dissolve the extended community protection order and 
requires law enforcement to update the Department of Public Safety database for 
protection orders when a community protection order is dissolved. 
8. It requires, prior to the return of a firearm to an individual who was restrained by 
an expired or dissolved community protection order, that the law enforcement agency 
provide notice of the return of the firearm to the petitioner, if the petitioner is a family or 
household member of the restrained individual. 
9. It requires law enforcement agencies to exercise reasonable care to avoid loss, 
damage or reduction in value of firearms surrendered by or seized from restrained 
individuals and provides that the Maine Tort Claims Act governs liability of law 
enforcement for damage to or reduction in value of such firearms. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
't,, t'J!.~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~,, to S.P. 719, L.D. 1884 
Part B of the amendment authorizes a court to order a person admitted to a 
progressive treatment program not to possess firearms, muzzle-loading firearms, bows, 
crossbows or other specified dangerous weapons for the duration of the patient's court-
ordered participation in the program. Possession of a firearm by a patient in violation of 
such an order is a Class D crime. 
A law enforcement officer to whom a patient 
surrenders a firearm must exercise reasonable care to avoid loss, damage or reduction in 
value of the surrendered firearm. 
Part C provides funds to the Judicial Department for programming and related 
information technology costs for case management system changes. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/18/18 feac 
LD 1884 
LR 2943(02) 
An Act To Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals 
from Possessing Firearms 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' " 
( S-LI ~ 8-) 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Highway Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Highway Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Increases caseload of civil suits and Class D crimes. 
FY 2017-18 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
FY 2018-19 
$281,000 
$0 
$281,000 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2019-20 
$32,500 
$17,820 
$32,500 
$17,820 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
$6,500 
$3,564 
$6,500 
$3,564 
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time. 
The collection of additional fines may increase General Fund or other dedicated revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Provides a one-time appropriation of $281,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 for the Judicial Department for programming 
and related infonnation technology costs for changes to the department's case management system. The Department of 
Public Safety will require a General Fund appropriation and a Highway Fund allocation of $32,500 and $17,820, 
respectively, in fiscal year 2019-20 for one-time programming costs and ongoing maintenance costs related to 
reprogramming of the METRO switch. 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services from the provisions of this bill are expected to 
be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2943(02) - Fiscal Note - Page l of 1