| | 4-A. If the State pleads and proves that, at the time any | crime, excluding murder, under chapter 9, 11, 13 or 27 was | committed, the defendant had been convicted of 2 or more | crimes violating chapter 9, 11, 13 or 27 or essentially | similar crimes in other jurisdictions, the sentencing class | for the crime is one class higher than it would otherwise be. | In the case of a Class A crime, the sentencing class is not | increased, but the prior record must be given serious | consideration by the court when imposing a sentence. Section | 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a | sentence, except that, for the purposes of this subsection, | the dates of prior convictions may have occurred at any time. | This subsection does not apply to section 210-A if the prior | convictions have already served to enhance the sentencing | class under section 210-A, subsection 1, paragraph C. |
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| | Sec. 13. 17-A MRSA §1252-B, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, | c. 433, §1, is repealed. |
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| | Sec. 14. 17-A MRSA §1302, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 367, §3, | is amended to read: |
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| | 1. In determining the amount of a fine, unless the fine | amount is mandatory, and in determining the method of payment | of a fine, the court shall take into account the present and | future financial capacity of the offender to pay the fine and | the nature of the financial burden that payment of the fine | will impose on the offender or a dependent of the offender, if | any. |
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| | Sec. 15. 17-A MRSA §1352, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 740, | §124, is amended to read: |
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| | 3. In the event of the death or resignation of any a | member, the vacancy for his the member's unexpired term shall | must be filled by the Attorney General. |
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| | Sec. 16. 17-A MRSA §1355, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 740, | §124, is amended to read: |
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| | 1. The Attorney General shall notify all members of the | time and place of the first meeting. At that time the | commission shall organize, elect a chairman chair, vice- | chairman vice-chair and secretary-treasurer and adopt rules as | to the administration of the commission and its affairs. The | commission shall maintain such financial records as may be | required by the State Auditor. |
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| | Sec. 17. Effective date. That section of this Act that repeals the | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, section 1252-B takes | effect January 1, 2004. |
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