An Act to Amend the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0179
Committee Amendment CA_A_H685 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" /L., to H.P. 112, L.D. 179, "An Act to Amend the 
Maine Bail Code to Eliminate the Clafsl Crime of Violation of Condition of Release'' 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Study the Feasibility of Repealing the Class E Crime of Violation of 
Condition of Release' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Preamble. Whereas, between 8,500 and 9,500 Class E violations of conditions of 
release have been charged across the State in each of the last 5 years; and 
Whereas, the Legislature observes a need to maintain a strong coordinated 
community response to bail violations that impact victim safety; and 
Whereas, eliminating the Class E crime of violation of condition of release and 
developing altemative mechanisms to maintain an equivalent ability to address bail 
violations in such cases will require input and collaboration from several stakeholders; 
now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. 
Administrative Office of Courts to convene working group. 
Resolved: That the Administrative Office of the Courts shall convene a working group 
of stakeholders to study the feasibility of removing the Class E crime of violation of 
condition of release and, if appropriate, study altemative mechanisms to replace the Class 
E crime of violation of condition ofrelease that aligns with the purpose and intent of the 
Maine Bail Code. 
Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: That the working group under 
section 1 must include, at a minimum, the following members: 
1. The State Court Administrator of the Administrative Office of the Courts or the 
administrator's designee; 
2. One or more representatives of the judicial branch with expertise in the Maine Bail 
Code and criminal court process and database management; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 112, L.D. 179 
3. A representative of the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State 
Bureau ofldentification with expertise in state and federal law enforcement databases; 
4. A representative of a statewide association representing chiefs of police; 
5. A representative of a statewide association representing sheriffs; 
6. A representative of the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police; 
7. A representative of a statewide organization with expertise in the pretrial monitoring 
of individuals charged with crimes; 
8. A representative of a statewide association of prosecutors; 
9. A representative of a statewide association of criminal defense lawyers; 
10. A representative of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services; 
11. 
A representative of a statewide organization of domestic violence service 
providers; 
12. A representative of a statewide organization of sexual assault victim support 
service providers; and 
13. A representative of a statewide organization advocating for civil liberties. 
The working group may invite the participation of additional members as necessary to 
carry out the purposes of the study and may consult with any individual or organization 
considered appropriate by the working group. 
Sec. 3. Duties of working group. Resolved: That the working group under 
section 1 shall study the feasibility of repealing the Class E crime of violation of condition 
of release and shall consider and address, at a minimum, the following related matters: 
1. How to maintain a response to violations of bail that implicate victim safety that is 
equivalent to the response under cunent law; 
2. Whether there are case types for which violations of conditions of release should be 
addressed in a specialized way, including, but not limited to, cases involving domestic 
violence and sexual assault; 
3. Whether protective orders may be used as an alternative mechanism for crimes 
between family members; 
4. How to ensure judicial officers can still access and consider infmmation about prior 
compliance with conditions of release in making determinations about cunent conditions 
of release; 
5. How to address a motion to revoke bail when the violation of a condition of release 
occurred in a different county than the county in which the underlying case is charged; 
6. How to address a violation of conditions of release that occurs prior to the State's 
having filed the necessa1y complaint with the court; 
7. How to address the cmTent use of violations of conditions ofrelease as sanctions 
for those participating in Maine's treatment courts; 
8. Whether there are any other modifications to the Maine Bail Code needed to 
implement the repeal of the Class E crime of violation of condition ofrelease; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 112, L.D. 179 
9. How to address post-conviction bail violations; 
10. Estimated costs for implementation of the recommendations; and 
11. A reasonable time frame for implementation. 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2026, the Administrative Office of 
the Courts shall submit a report containing the findings and recommendations of the 
working group under section 1, including proposed legislation, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. The committee may submit legislation 
based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
Sec. 5. 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
Initiative: Establishes one Criminal Process Specialist position and provides funding for 
related All Other costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063 
2025-26 
1.000 
$129,599 
$1,200 
$130,799 
2026-27 
1.000 
$136,283 
$1,200 
$137,483 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for an active retired judge to participate in the 
working group. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2025-26 
$4,200 
$4,200 
2025-26 
$134,999 
$134,999 
2026-27 
$0 
$0 
2026-27 
$137,483 
$137,483 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, changes the title and 
replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment directs the judicial branch to convene a 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 112, L.D. 179 
working group to study the feasibility of repealing the Class E crime of violation of 
condition of release and fmding suitable alternatives to maintain public safety that align 
with the intent and purposes of the Maine Bail Code. In accomplishing this goal, the 
working group must consider the following: 
1. How to maintain a response to violations of bail that implicate victim safety that is 
equivalent to the response under cu11'ent law; 
2. Whether there are case types for which violations of conditions of release should be 
addressed in a specialized way, including, but not limited to, cases involving domestic 
violence and sexual assault; 
3. Whether protective orders may be used as an alternative mechanism for crimes 
between family members; 
4. How to ensure judicial officers can still access and consider information about prior 
compliance with conditions of release in making determinations about cu11'ent conditions 
of release; 
5. How to address a motion to revoke bail when the violation of a condition ofrelease 
occruTed in a different county than the county in which the underlying case is charged; 
6. How to address a violation of conditions of release that occurs prior to the State's 
having filed the necessary complaint with the court; 
7. How to address the cunent use of violations of conditions of release as sanctions 
for those participating in Maine's treatment courts; 
8. Whether there are any other modifications to the Maine Bail Code needed to 
implement the repeal of the Class E crime of violation of condition of release; 
9. How to address post-conviction bail violations; 
10. Estimated costs for implementation of the recommendations; and 
11. A reasonable time frame for implementation. 
The judicial branch must submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal 
Justice and Public Safety by January 1, 2026, and the committee may report out legislation 
based on the rep01t to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/04/25 LRL 
LD 179 
LR 586(02) 
An Act to Amend the Maine Bail Code to Eliminate the Class E Crime of Violation of Condition of 
Release 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '11" f ~ - (o ~s) 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
f-\ \ 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
.. General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-2:6 
$134,999 
$134,999 
FY 2026-27 
$137,483 
$137,483 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
$142,798 
$142,798 
Projections 
FY 2028-29 
$148,320 
• $148,320 
The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to the Judicial Branch of $130,799 in fiscal year 2025-26 and 
$137,483 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish one criminal process specialist position to assist the working group. This 
position is also included in Part A of the Governor's proposed biennial budget. If funded through the biennial budget 
bill, it would not require separate funding in this bill. It also includes one-time General Fund appropriation of $4,200 
in fiscal year 2025-26 for an active retired judge to participate in the working group. 
Any additional costs to the Deparhnent of Public Safety and the Maine Cmmnission on Public Defense Services from 
the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0586(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1