An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures. of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and to Change Ce1tain Provisions of the Law Necessa1y to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025,,
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2214
Committee Amendment CA_A_HA_A_H988 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3028-A

HOUSE AMENDMENT" A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "N' to H.P. 1420, 
L.D. 2214, "An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the 
Expenditures. of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and to Change Ce1tain 
Provisions of the Law Necessa1y to the Proper Operations of State Government for the 
Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025,, 
Amend the amendment by inserting after Pait TTTT the following: 
'PARTUUUU 
Sec. UUUU-1. 22 MRSA §3028-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 335, §1, is repealed 
and the following enacted in its place: 
§3028-A. Disposal of unidentified human remains and abancloncd human remains; 
identification 
This section govems the storage, identification, disposition and expenses related to 
human remains. 
1. Storage and disposition of human remains. Whenever unidentified human 
remains are recovered. the Chief Medical Examiner may store the remains. release them to 
an educational institution, inter them in an appropriate resting place or have them cremated 
in accordance with this section. Ashes of remains cremated may be disposed of in any 
apprnpriate manner. Human remains uncovered in a carnd-for cemete1y are excluded from 
the operation of this section. Human remains known to be Indian remains are excluded 
from the operation of this subsection and must be handled in the manner required by section 
2842~B. 
The Chief Medical Examiner may assume responsibility for the disposal of identified 
human remains of a deceased resident of this State that are the subject of a medical 
examine1· case if no one takes custody and control of the human remains for a period of 3 0 
days after the Chief Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy or necessa1y examination 
of the human remains. made reasonable inquh:y under section 3028-D, subsection 1 and 
satisfied the req11irements of subsection 2. Such abandoned remains may be interred 01· 
5 
cremated. The Chief Medical Examiner shall file 01· cause to be filed a celiiflcate of 
abandonment in the municipality where the human remains were recovered that indicates 
7 
the means of disposal. 
Page I - 131LR3108(15) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
t•~CS\ 
HOUSE AMENDMENT" A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1420, L.D. 2214 
In the absence of a responsible party, payment of expenses incurred by the Chief Medical 
Examiner pursuant to this section must be made pursuant to section 3028-D, subsection 2 
as if the remains were unidentified. The Chief Medical Examiner may seek to recover costs 
from the estate or municipality of residence of the deceased. 
2. Identification of human remains using DNA. After the Chief Medical Examiner 
has had possession of unidentified human remains for 45 days, the Chief Medical Examiner 
shall test the deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of human remains using forensic genetic 
genealogy testing. For purposes of this subsection. "forensic genetic genealogy testing" 
means a DNA analysis of a sample of biological material by a laboratmy to develop a 
profile and search for that profile in a database of personal genomics 01· using a direct-to-
consumer genetic genealogy service. 
Sec. UUUU~2. Chief Medical Examiner to identify human remains. The 
Chief Medical Examiner shall use forensic genetic genealogy testing of the 
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of unidentified remains in order of importance as 
determined by the Chief Medical Examiner to identify any unidentified human remains in 
the possession of the Chief Medical Examiner as of the effective date of this Act. As used 
in this section, "forensic genetic genealogy testing" has the same meaning as in the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3028-A, subsection 2. 
Sec. UUUU-3. Transfer of funds. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 
contraty, on or before June 30, 2025, the State Controller shall transfer $100,000 from the 
Depa1iment of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Prnfessional and 
Occupational Regulation prngram, Other Special Revenue Funds account to the 
Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner prngram, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account. 
Sec. UUUU-4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations 
and allocations are made. 
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE 
Chief Medical Examiner - Office of 0412 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for forensic genetic genealogy testing of the 
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of unidentified human remains. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2023-24 
All Other 
$0 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0 
2024-25 
$100,000 
Amend the amendment by re lettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Paii letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment 1·equires the Chief Medical Examiner to use forensic genetic 
genealogy testing with the deoxyl'ibofilfoieic acid, or DNA, of the human remains of an 
unidentified individual after 45 days of having possession of the unidentified human 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSE AMENDMENT" A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1420, L.D. 2214 
·' 
remains. Human remains known to be Indian 1;emains ar.e excluded from the provisions of 
the amendment. 
SPONSORED BY: 
(Representative BOYER, D,) 
TOWN: Poland 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/17/24 ;!Wa<!. 
LD 2214 
LR 3108(15) 
An .!).Ct to MaKe ;supp1ementa1 Approprianons ano Auocanons ror me Jl,Xpenouures or ;state 
,·. \:; (;over1imeilt, General Fund and Other Funds and to Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary 
• to the Proper.Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 
~O ?O?~ 
. 
• 
\, t,,. , 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment 1A1 to Committee Amendment "A" ( H-~q£,9) 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Transfers 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Sponsor: Rep. Boyer, Jr. of Poland 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2024-25 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
$0 
$0 
Projectidns 
FY 2026-27 
$0 
$0 
This amendment transfers $100,000 on or before June 301 2025 from funeral licensing fee revenue in the Department 
of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Other Special 
Revenue Funds account to the Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account for forensic genetic genealogy testing of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of 
unidentified human remains. The amendment includes a one-time allocation of $100,000 to the Office of the Chief 
Medical Examiner to authorize expenditure of the fonds. 
LR3108{15) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1