An Act To Increase Funding for Civil Legal Services
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0214
Committee Amendment CA_A_H316 (House)
Amends: 4 MRSA §18-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 177, L.D. 214, Bill, "An Act To 
Increase Funding for Civil Legal Services" 
Amend the bill by strildng out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§1, ,rn, as amended by PL 2005, c. 361, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
B. Except as provided in paragraph C, money in the fund must be disbursed to legal 
services providers to support the provision of free civil legal services to low-income 
or needy people or the needy elderly in this State. Money disbursed from the fund 
may not be used by a recipient to support lobbying as defined in Title 3, section 
312-A, subsection 9 unless the recipient is responding to a request by a Legislator or 
a member of the Executive Department. Only the following legal services providers 
may receive disbursement to provide free civil legal services: 
(1) Nonprofit organizations whose missions include the provision of statewide 
free civil legal services and who have at least one year 5 years of experience 
providing free civil legal services; 
(2) Legal aid clinics of accredited law schools operating exclusively in Maine; 
and 
(3) Programs whose primary mission is to coordinate pro bono legal services on 
a statewide basis for low-income people in this State. 
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~,, to H.P. 177, L.D. 214 
Initiative: Increases funding for civil legal services for persons unable to afford a lawyer 
by providing additional funds available for distribution by the Civil Legal Services Fund 
Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 4, section 18-A, subsection 1. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2019-20 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
2020-21 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. 
The amendment 
improves funding for civil legal services by providing an appropriation from the General 
Fund to be distributed through the existing procedures of the Civil Legal Services Fund 
Commission. The amendment clarifies the qualifications for providers to be eligible for 
funding. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
----- ----- --------
Approved: 04/30/19 feac. 
LD214 
LR1107(02) 
An Act To Increase Funding for Civil Legal Services 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,/4, { H-J fl,) 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Projections 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
FY2020-21 
FY 2021-22 
FY 2022-23 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
$5,000,000 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $5,000,000 beginning in fiscal year 2019-20 to support civil 
legal services to persons who otherwise are not able to pay. Funds are distributed pursuantto 4 MRSA § 18-A, 
subsection 1. 
LR1107(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1