An Act to Establish a Civil Rights Unit and a Civil Rights Review Panel Within the Office of the Attorney General and Require Ongomg Enhanced Civil Rights Training for Civil Rights Officers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2210
Committee Amendment CA_A_H877 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §4684-C, 25 MRSA §2804

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " F\ " to H,P. 1417, L.D. 2210, "An Act to Establish
a Civil Rights Unit and a Civil Rights Review Panel Within the Office of the Attorney
General and Require Ongomg Enhanced Civil Rights Training for Civil Rights Officers"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Establish a Civil Rights Unit Within the Office of the Attorney General
and Require Enhanced Ongoing Civil Rights Training for Civil Rights Officers'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §200-0 by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 1, lines
30 to 32 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
'5.ComGjajnts, Theo_JBTice shall make available numerous methods for individuals to
submit civil rights violation conmlamts. The confidentiality of civil rights violation
complaints is governed by the Intelligence and Investigative Record Information Act.'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §200-0 in subsection 6 in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th lines
(page 1, lines 34 to 37 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Before the unit may submit
the report to the Legislature,'the^mit shall submit the report to the Civil Rights Review
Panel established by section 200-P. The report must be submitted to the panel no later than
January 1st annuallv."
Amend the bill in section 1 in §200-0 in subsection 6 by inserting at the end a new
blocked paragraph to read:
'After reviewing the resort, the_ioint standme committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over civil rights matters may report out legislation related to the report to any
regular or special session of the Legislature.
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2,
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 and inserting the following:
'See. 4. 5 MRSA §4684-C, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Qngoine enhanced civil riehts trainine. A civil rights officer shall undergo
ongoing enhanced civil rights trainine administered by the Maine Criminal Justice
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^ COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 1417, L.D. 2210
Academy, as determined by the Office of the Attorney General, to remain qualified as a
civil rights officer,'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 5.
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 6 and inserting the following:
'See. 6. 25 MRSA §2804-0 is enacted to read:
828Q4-0. Oneoine enhanced civil rights training for civil riehts officers
A law enforcement officer qualified as a civil rights officer within the meaning of Title
5. section 4684-C. subsection 1. paraeratih A shall undergo ongoing enhanced civil rights
training administered by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, as determined by the Office
of the Attorney General, to remain qualified as a civil rights officer.
Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE
Administration - Attorney General 0310
Initiative; Establishes one Assistant Attorney General position and one Paralegal position
effective September 1,2024 to coordinate cases, education, outreach and reportmg related
to fhe Maine Civil Rights Act and provides funding for related All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
POSITIONS - LEGISLATWE COUNT 0.000 2.000
Personal Services $0 $179,451
AllOther $0 $14,143
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $193,594
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, strikes the provisions
of the bill establishing the Civil Rights Review Panel, It also clarifies that the
confidentiality of civil rights violation complaints is governed by the Intelligence and
Investigative Record Information Act. The amendment also adds language to make clear
and consistent among fh.e provisions of law that govern the training of civil rights officers
that a civil rights officer must undergo enhanced ongoing civil rights training as directed
by the Office of the Attorney General in order to remain qualified as a civil rights officer.
5 FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page2-131LR2621(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/19/24 ftfVSC-
LD 2210 LR 2621(02)
An Act to Establish a Civil Rights Unit and a Civil Rights Review Panel Within the Office of the
Attorney General and Require Ongoing Enhanced Civil Rights Training for Civil Rights Officers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/|" ( ^\^-
Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $193,594 $237,236 $245,268
Appropriations/AlIocations
General Fund $0 $193,594 $237,236 $245,268
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill creates a civil rights unit within the Office of the Attorney General to promote and advance protections
under the Maine Civil Rights Act. The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to the Office of the
Attorney General of $193,594 in fiscal year 2024-25 for one Assistant Attorney General position and one Paralegal
position beginning September 1, 2024 to coordinate cases, education, outreach and reporting related to the Maine
Civil Rights Act.
LR262K02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1