An Act to Improve Access to Civil Legal Services
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0564
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: CARNEY, MILLETT, BAILEY, BENNETT, MOORE, KUHN, MOONEN, POIRIER, RANA

Legislative Document
No. 564
S.P. 235
In Senate, February 9, 2023
An Act to Improve Access to Civil Legal Services
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative MILLETT of Waterford and
Senators: BAILEY of York, BENNETT of Oxford, MOORE of Washington, Representatives: 
KUHN of Falmouth, MOONEN of Portland, POIRIER of Skowhegan, RANA of Bangor.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Maine's civil legal aid providers offer a full range of legal assistance to 
Maine people with low or no income, from services that help individuals and families meet 
basic needs and assert other legal rights to advocacy efforts to advance and protect their 
legal interests on a systemic scale; and
Whereas, approximately 356,500 Maine people have low income, living below 200% 
of the federal poverty level; and
Whereas, most Maine people with low income face at least one civil legal issue each 
year that cannot be fairly resolved without legal advice or effective legal advocacy; and
Whereas, Maine's civil legal aid providers currently lack the resources to provide 
representation to more than a small fraction of those who need their assistance with life-
altering legal issues; and
Whereas, these providers are facing reductions in other sources of funding at the same 
time that the need for civil legal aid has been increasing dramatically; and
Whereas, a timely increase in investment in the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund is 
essential to sustain and improve access to civil legal aid; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
Initiative: Increases funding for civil legal services for persons who otherwise are not able 
to pay for those services by providing additional funds for distribution by determination of 
the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
4, section 18-A, subsection 1.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$3,900,000
$7,800,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$3,900,000
$7,800,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides for increases in the ongoing appropriation to the Judicial Department 
for civil legal services. The funding supplements existing revenue that is distributed to 
providers of civil legal services by determination of the Civil Legal Services Fund 
Commission.