An Act to Provide Funding for Essential Services for Victims of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1139
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CARNEY, HENDERSON, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 5 MRSA §1591

Legislative Document
No. 1139
S.P. 470
In Senate, March 18, 2025
An Act to Provide Funding for Essential Services for Victims of 
Crimes
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative HENDERSON of Rumford and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, DUSON of 
Cumberland, Representatives: CARLOW of Buxton, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, GATTINE of 
Westbrook, STOVER of Boothbay.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, it is anticipated that federal grants to the Department of Health and Human 
Services from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office 
for Victims of Crime may soon be reduced; and
Whereas, in order to offset the loss of those federal grants, it is important that the 
State provide funds as soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶J, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. MMMM, 
§2, is further amended to read:
J.  Any balance remaining in the Office of Behavioral Health program, General Fund 
account at the end of any fiscal year to be carried forward for use by this program in 
the next fiscal year; and
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶K, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. MMMM, 
§3, is amended to read:
K.  Any balance remaining in the Drinking Water Enforcement program, General Fund 
account at the end of any fiscal year to be carried forward for use by this program in 
the next fiscal year for the same purpose.; and
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶L is enacted to read:
L.  Any balance remaining in the accounts of the Department of Health and Human 
Services appropriated for the purpose of supplementing grants to the department under 
the federal victim assistance formula grant program administered by the United States 
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime 
pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984 at the end of any fiscal year to be 
carried forward for use in the next fiscal year for the same purpose.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Purchased Social Services 0228
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding to replace current and anticipated reductions in grants 
to the department under the federal victim assistance formula grant program administered 
by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims 
of Crime pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$6,000,000
$6,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$6,000,000
$6,000,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides ongoing funding for crime victim services and requires any balance 
remaining at the end of a fiscal year appropriated to the Department of Health and Human 
Services to supplement grants under the federal victim assistance formula grant program 
to be carried forward to the next fiscal year for the same purpose.