Resolve, to Establish a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1965
Committee Amendment CA_B_S505 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " g> »to S.P, 772, L.D. 1965, "Resolve, to Establish a
Task Force to Create a Court Navigation Program Plan"
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the emergency preamble and before
the emergency clause and inserting the following:
'See. 1. University of Maine System to convene task force. Resolved: That
the University of Maine System shall convene a task force, referred to in this resolve as
"the task force," to create a court navigation program plan. The membership of the task
force must consist of at least one representative from each of the following;
1. The schools of social work of the University of Maine System;
2. The University of Maine School of Law;
3. Maine Pretrial Services, Inc.;
4. Pine Tree Legal Assistance;
5. Disability Rights Maine;
6. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine;
7. 211 Maine;
8. The Department of Health and Human Services; and
9. The judicial branch,
See. 2. Court navigation program plan. Resolved: That the task force shall
examine court navigation programs nationwide, recommend a model for a court navigation
program for use in the State and create a plan for implementing the progt'ain. At a
minimum, the court navigation program model recommended by the task force must be
designed to:
1. Provide guidance and information about court processes and procedures to persons
involved with the court system;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "<^' to S,P. 772, L.D. 1965 ^-5'C>S '
2. Provide persons involved with the court system referrals to community-based
resources related to their behavioral health needs, such as mental health treatment and
substance use disorder treatment, and their economic and social service-related needs, such
as housing, employment, transportation and food, in order to address those needs; and
3, Be operated, in significant part, by social work students and law students who have
the opportunity to earn academic credit for their participation in the operation oftiie court
navigation program.
In pursuing its duties under tliis section, the task force shall consult with advocates for
persons who are unhoused, for survivors of domestic violence, for sui-vivors of sexual
assault and for other identifiable populations who may particularly benefit from the
assistance of the court navigation program.
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved ; That, no later than Januaty 15,2027, the task force shall
submit a report that includes the court navigation program plan required by section 2,
including a model for a court navigation program for use in this State, and that includes
suggested legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction
over judiciary matters. The joint standing committee may report out legislation based on
the subject matter of the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.'
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read conseoutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment requires the task force convened by the University of Maine System
in the resolve to include at least one representative from the judicial branch and to consult
with advocates for persons who are unhoused, for survivors of domestic violence, for
survivors of sexual assault and for other identifiable populations who may particularly
benefit from a court navigation program. It also requires that the task force recommend a
model for a court navigation program designed to be operated, in significant part, by social
work students and law students who have the opportunity to earn academic credit for their
participation in the program .
The amendment also changes from December 3, 2025 to Januaiy 15,2027 the date by
which the task force must submit a report with the recommended model for a court
navigation program to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction
over judiciary matters,
FISCAL NOTE REQUmED
(See attached)
P8ge2-132LR1872(04)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/04/26 t'R£-
LD 1965 LR 1872(04)
Resolve, to Establish a Task Force to Create a Court Navigation Program Plan
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ^ (5-5'c>'S)
Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase " General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the University of Maine System to convene, and the Department of Health and Human
Services, Disability Rights Maine and Pine Tree Legal Assistance to participate, in the task force are expected to be
minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LR 1872(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1