An Act to Establish Bail
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0527
Committee Amendment CA_A_H715 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A 
"to H.P. 346, L.D. 527, "An Act to Establish Bail 
Officers to Administer the Maine Bail Code" 
Amend the bill in section 6 in § 1025 in the first indented paragraph in the 3rd line (page 
4, line 25 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Class Dor" and inserting the following: 
'Class D or' 
Amend the bill in section 6 in§ 1025 in the first indented paragraph in the 3rd line (page 
4, line 25 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "as required by Title 15. section 1092. 
paragraph 4
Amend the bill by inserting after section 16 the following: 
'Sec, 17. Working group; report. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall 
convene a working group with representatives that are currently employed as bail 
commissioners to examine the establishment of bail officers, whether bail officers have 
improved administration of the bail code and whether any further changes to state law are 
necessary in relation to the establishment of bail officers. The Administrative Office of the 
Courts shall submit a report containing the findings and recommendations of the working 
group to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal 
justice and public safety matters by November 4, 2026. The committee may report out 
legislation based on the rep01t during the 133rd Legislature in 2027. 
' 
Sec. 18. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative: Provides funding for 3 bail officer positions and related All Other costs to set 
and execute bail in accordance with the law. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATNE COUNT 
Personal Services 
2025-26 
3.000 
$390,162 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2026-27 
3.000 
$404,208 
~os 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f( to H.P. 346, L.D. 527 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$10,215 
$400,377 
$5,190 
$409,398 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Patt letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the bill by 
retaining a bail commissioner's authority to take the personal recognizance of any 
defendant for appearance on a charge of a Class D crime as authorized by current law and 
makes a technical change. The amendment requires that the Administrative Office of the 
Coutts convene a working group with members that are employed as bail commissioners 
to examine the establishment of bail officers. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall 
submit a report based on the findings of the working group to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters by 
November 4, 2026. The committee may submit legislation based on the report to the 133rd 
Legislature in 2027. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/17/25 LRL 
LD527 
LR 527(02) 
An Act to Establish Bail Officers to Administer the Maine Bail Code 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A / H-7rr-\ 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
l I 
I::::::,/ 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-26 
FY 2026-27 
$400,377 
$409,398 
$400,377 
$409,398 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
$423,949 
$423,949 
Projections 
FY 2028-29 
$439,025 
$439,025 
This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriation to the Judicial Branch of $400,377 in fiscal year 2025-26 and 
$409,398 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish 3 bail officer positions to set and execute bail in accordance with the law. 
LR0527(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1