An Act to Establish a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0740
Committee Amendment CA_A_H889 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ,4" to H.P. 482, L.D. 740, "An Act to Establish a
Comprehensive Program to Divert Youth from the Criminal Justice System and Address
Their Needs"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following;
'Resolve, to Study Methods for Improving Youth Community Supervision and
Increasing Juvenile Diversion from Formal Judicial Processing'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Department of Corrections to convene task force. Resolved: That
the Department of Corrections shall convene a task force, referred to in this resolve as "the
task force," to study methods for divertmg youths safely from formal judicial processing
and to recommend improvements to existing community supervision practices.
Sec. 2. Task force members. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Corrections
shall appoint the following 12 members to the task force;
1. One member who is a regional correctional administrator within the Department of
Corrections;
2. One member who is a regional correctional manager within the Department of
Corrections;
3. One member who is a juvenile community corrections officer within the Department
of Corrections;
4. One member with expertise in youth development and children's behavioral health
within the Department of Health and Human Services;
5. One member who is an active, active retired or retu-ed judge or justice with
experience m the juvenile justice system, recommended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court;
6, One member who is a prosecutor with experience in the juvenile justice system;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
sfa
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^ " to H.P. 482, L.D. 740
7. One member who is a defense attorney with experience in the juvenile justice
system;
8. One member with experience in youth development and juvenile justice data
analysis and research within the University of Maine System;
9. One member from a community-based program or organization designed to divert
youth from the juvenile justice system;
10. One member with expertise and experience in youth law and policy development;
11. One member who has personal experience with the juvenile justice system; and
12. One member who is related to a youth who has been involved in the juvenile justice
system.
Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall:
1. Identify, describe and collect data on diversion of youth from Department of
Corrections supervision prior to formal court involvement, including no further action
determinations and informal adjustments;
2. Identify obstacles and improvements to diversions that will help ensure the
Department of Corrections is able to divert youths from the formal juvenile court process
when appropriate;
3. To the extent possible, establish at least 3 pilot sites across the State that are
responsible for designing and implementing methods for diverting youths from the juvenile
justice system, with a particular focus on increasing diversion from Department of
Corrections supervision and court involvement; and
4. To the extent possible and appropriate, develop and implement a family-engaged
case planning process for youths under Department of Corrections supervision. The process
must be informed by research on successful methods that foster long-term behavioral
change and positive youth development and accountability. It also must be designed to
emphasize the perspective of youths and families, focus on individualized goals, build on
strengths and elevate community supports to improve outcomes for youth and public safety,
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That,nolaterthan January 1,2028, the Commissioner
of Corrections shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
0 having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters that includes the findings
and recommendations of the task force. The joint standing committee may report out
legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
5 CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF
Administration - Corrections 0141
Initiative; Provides funding for one Public Service Manager I position and related costs to
8 implement the study and pilot project.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATfVE COUNT 0.000 1.000
Personal Services $0 $143,232
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
0^
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "M--" to H,P, 482. L.D. 740
•/v"
AllOther $0 $8,579
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $151,811
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve, The amendment du'ects the
Department of Corrections to convene a task force to study methods for diverting youths
safely from formal judicial processmg and to recommend improvements to community
supervision practices. By Januaiy 1,2028, the department must submit a report to the joint
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over cruninal justice and public
safety matters. The j oint standing committee may report out legislation based on the report
to the Second Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03/18/26 i-KL
LD 740 LR 930(02)
An Act to Establish a Comprehensive Program to Divert Youth from the Criminal Justice System and
Address Their Needs
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ^
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $151,811 $152,947 $158,750
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $151,811 $152,947 $158,750
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes a General Fund appropriation to the Department of Corrections of$151,811 in fiscal year 2026-27
for one Public Service Manager I position and related costs to implement the study and pilot project,
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Maine System to
implement the provisions of this resolve are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted
resources.
LR0930(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1