Resolve, to Create an Advisory Council to Oversee the Review and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0330
Sponsors: MILLIKEN, TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 330
H.P. 230
House of Representatives, February 3, 2025
Resolve, to Create an Advisory Council to Oversee the Review and 
Technical Revision of the Maine Criminal Code and Other Statutes 
Establishing Criminal Offenses
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MILLIKEN of Blue Hill.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: BOYER of Poland, LIBBY of Auburn.
Sec. 1.  Advisory council to review and revise Maine Criminal Code and 
other criminal provisions. Resolved: That an advisory council, referred to in this 
resolve as "advisory council," is created to oversee a review and technical revision of the 
Maine Criminal Code and other statutes establishing criminal offenses.  The advisory 
council shall select and enter into a contract with an outside consultant under section 2 to 
conduct the review.  The advisory council shall review the report of the outside consultant, 
consult with the Criminal Law Advisory Commission, established pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 52, and make recommendations to 
the Legislature. The advisory council consists of the following 5 members:
1.  A person who is a prosecuting attorney licensed in the State, appointed by the 
President of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Maine Prosecutors' Association;
2.  A person who is a criminal defense attorney licensed in the State, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives upon the recommendation of the Maine 
Commission on Public Defense Services, established pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-G, 
subsection 25-A;
3.  A person who is a legal educator with expertise in the State's criminal law, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon the recommendation of the dean of 
the University of Maine School of Law; 
4.  An active retired judge or justice, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Judicial Court; and
5. The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, who serves as chair of the 
advisory council.
A majority of the advisory council must be present to conduct business, but all votes 
and other approvals of advisory council actions require the consensus of all 5 members.
Sec. 2.  Outside consultant; review. Resolved: That the Attorney General shall 
issue a request for proposals seeking an outside consultant who is a licensed attorney in the 
State with experience and expertise in criminal law and statutory construction to conduct a 
review of the Maine Criminal Code and other statutes establishing criminal offenses. 
Submitted proposals must include a list of staff required to perform the proposed work on 
behalf of the advisory council.  The advisory council shall assist the Attorney General in 
drafting the request for proposals and shall interview the applicants and select the outside 
consultant from the group of applicants.  The outside consultant shall conduct a review of 
the Maine Criminal Code and other crimes established in the Maine Revised Statutes to 
identify unused and obsolete provisions, clarify confusing language, eliminate 
inconsistencies, consolidate or eliminate redundant provisions and reorganize or restructure 
the Maine Criminal Code and other statutes establishing criminal offenses. The advisory 
council shall review the report of the outside consultant and develop recommendations.
Sec. 3.  Departments and agencies.  Resolved: That a department or agency of 
the State may make recommendations to the advisory council concerning a crime under the 
jurisdiction of the department or agency.
Sec. 4.  Report.  Resolved: That, by February 1, 2026, the advisory council shall 
submit a report based upon the review under this resolve and any recommended legislation 
to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which may report 
out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve creates an advisory council to select an outside consultant to review the 
Maine Criminal Code and other statutes establishing criminal offenses to identify unused 
and obsolete provisions, clarify confusing language, eliminate inconsistencies, consolidate 
or eliminate redundant provisions and reorganize or restructure the Maine Criminal Code 
and other statutes establishing criminal offenses. It also directs the advisory council to 
submit a report based upon the review and any recommended legislation to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which is authorized to report 
out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.