Resolve, Authorizing the Establishment of Prosecutorial Districts in Downeast Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1967
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: TUELL, MOORE, ALLEY, JAVNER, PERRY, WHITE, CYRWAY

Legislative Document
No. 1967
H.P. 1411
House of Representatives, January 8, 2020
Resolve, Authorizing the Establishment of Prosecutorial Districts in 
Downeast Maine
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TUELL of East Machias.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, JAVNER of Chester, PERRY of Calais, WHITE of 
Waterville, Senator: CYRWAY of Kennebec.
Sec. 1.  Referendum procedure; form of question.  Resolved:  That the 
county commissioners of Hancock and Washington counties shall notify the inhabitants 
of their respective counties to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a 
statewide election, at the statewide election held in the month of November 2020, to vote 
upon the following question:
"Do you favor directing the county commissioners to dissolve Prosecutorial 
District Number 7 and develop a plan to either establish a separate prosecutorial 
district or join a neighboring prosecutorial district?"
The voters shall indicate their opinion on this question by a cross or check mark 
placed against the word "Yes" or "No."
The method of voting and the conduct of the referendum are governed by the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, and the county commissioners or county administrators 
shall perform the duties of the Secretary of State prescribed by Title 21-A in the same 
manner as the county commissioners are required to do in the case of a county bond 
referendum election held pursuant to Title 30-A, section 938.
Sec. 2.  Certification filed with Secretary of State.  Resolved:  That the 
results of a referendum under section 1 must be declared by the county commissioners or 
county administrators of Hancock and Washington counties and due certificate filed by 
the county commissioners or county administrator of each county with the Secretary of 
State within 10 days after the date of the election.
Sec. 3.  Submission of plan.  Resolved:  That, if the referendum question under 
section 1 passes by a majority vote in both Hancock and Washington counties, the county 
commissioners of each county shall submit a plan to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters by February 1, 
2021.  The plan must state whether the county commissioners seek to form a new 
prosecutorial district or whether the commissioners intend the county to join a 
neighboring prosecutorial district.  If a plan proposes that the county join a neighboring 
district, the plan must include a letter from the county commissioners of the neighboring 
district agreeing to the plan.
Sec. 4.  Legislation.  Resolved:  That, if plans are submitted pursuant to section 3, 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local 
government matters shall introduce legislation during the First or Second Regular Session 
of the 130th Legislature implementing the plans for Hancock and Washington counties 
for dissolving Prosecutorial District Number 7 and for each county to either establish a 
new prosecutorial district or join an existing district.  The effective date of such 
legislation must be January 1, 2023.
Sec. 5.  District Attorney for Prosecutorial District Number 7; term of 
office.  Resolved:  That, if the referendum question under section 1 passes by a 
majority vote in both Hancock and Washington counties and legislation is enacted as 
required in section 4, the district attorney for Prosecutorial District Number 7 shall 
continue to serve in that position until January 1, 2023.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the county commissioners of Hancock and Washington counties 
to submit a referendum question to the voters at the statewide election in November 2020.   
The referendum question is whether the voters of each county desire to direct the county 
commissioners to dissolve Prosecutorial District Number 7 and develop a plan to either 
establish a separate prosecutorial district or join a neighboring prosecutorial district.  If a 
majority of voters in both counties vote in favor of this referendum question, the county 
commissioners of both counties are directed to develop and submit a plan to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government 
matters by February 1, 2021.  If the county commissioners plan to join a neighboring 
prosecutorial district, the county commissioners of that neighboring district are required 
to submit a report to the committee stating their consent to the addition.  The committee 
is directed to introduce legislation in the First or Second Regular Session of the 130th 
Legislature that implements the plans of the counties.  The plans and the dissolution of 
Prosecutorial District Number 7 take effect January 1, 2023.