An Act to Restore Firearm Rights and Huntmg Privileges to Persons Previously Convicted of Certain Nonviolent Felony Crimes
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1561
Committee Amendment CA_A_H731 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " JX " to H,P. 1006, L.D. 1561, "An Act to Restore
Firearm Rights and Huntmg Privileges to Persons Previously Convicted of Certain
Nonviolent Felony Crimes"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Public Safety to Convene a Stakeholder
Group to Develop a Process to Allow Prohibited Persons to Have Their Full Civil
Rights Related to Firearms Restored'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Stakeholder group. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Public Safety
shall convene a stakeholder group to develop a process by which persons prohibited from
owning, possessing or having under their control a firearm pursuant to the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 15, section 393 can petition to have their full civil rights related to firearms
restored. The commissioner shall invite, at a minimum, the participation in the stakeholder
group of the following;
1. The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee;
2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or the chief justice's designee;
3. A representative of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence;
4. An expert in the field of mental and behavioral health; and
5. A representative of the Maine Prosecutors Association,
The process for restoring civil rights related to firearms developed by the stakeholder
' group must allow prohibited persons to file a petition with an.appropriate government body
or agency to have their full civil rights related to firearms restored. This process must
emphasize public safety and must be practical and understandable,
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 30, 2025, the Commissioner
of Public Safety shall submit to the joint standmg committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters a report describing the process
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^' to H,P. 1006, L,D. 1561
developed by the stakeholder group in section 1 and any potential barriers to implementing
the process and include any recommended legislation. After reviewing the report, the
committee may report out legislation relating to the report to the 132nd Legislature m 2025,'
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, changes the bill to a
resolve and changes the title. It requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to convene a
stakeholder group to develop a process allowing persons prohibited from owning,
possessing or having under their control a firearm under Maine law the ability to petition
an appropriate government body or agency to have their full civil rights related to firearms
restored, The stakeholder group consists, at a minimum, of the Attorney General or the
Attorney General's designee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or the chief
justice's designee, a representative of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, an
expert in the field of mental and behavioral health and a representative of the Maine
Prosecutors Association. The commissioner is required to submit by January 30, 2025 a
report describing the process developed by the stakeholder group, describing any potential
barriers to implementation and including any recommended legislation to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over crimmal justice and public safety
matters. The committee may report out legislation related to the report to the 132nd
Legislature in 2025,
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 01/10/24 ^WS^
LD 1561 LR 252(02)
An Act to Restore Firearm Rights and Hunting Privileges to Persons Previously Convicted of Certain
Nonviolent Felony Crimes
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'y^' (j-^ -731.
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Office of the Attorney General and the Judicial Department associated with voluntary
participation in a stakeholder group are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted
resources. Additional costs to the Department of Public Safety to convene a stakisholder group and report the results
can also be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0252(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1