Resolve, To Extend the Pilot Project at the Juvenile Correctional Facilities

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the guardian ad litem and advocate pilot project established under Resolve 2005, chapter 101 will terminate April 1, 2008 unless the Legislature acts; 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

Sec. 1. Resolve 2005, c. 101, §8, amended. Resolved: That Resolve 2005, c. 101, §8 is amended to read:

Sec. 8. Evaluation of pilot project. Resolved: That , in consultation with the selection committee under section 3, the commissioner shall establish a process and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project in section 1 at both of the department's juvenile correctional facilities, including a comparison of the implementation of the project at the department juvenile correctional facilities. The results of the evaluation must be provided to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters in a written report no later than January 15, 2008, along with the department's recommendation as to whether the project should be expanded, modified, reduced or terminated the commissioner shall submit a summary of the pilot project in section 1 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters no later than January 15, 2010. In lieu of any action by the Legislature, the The pilot project terminates on April 1, 2008 2010.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF

Office of Advocacy 0684

Initiative: Provides funds for a part-time Departmental Advocate position and general operating expenses.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	0.500
Personal Services	$0	$40,796
All Other	$0	$8,633
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$49,429

Sec. 3. Retroactivity. Resolved: That this resolve applies retroactively to April 1, 2008.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve is submitted by the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Order 2008, S.P. 890.

Resolve 2005, chapter 101 established a guardian ad litem and advocate pilot project for juveniles committed to the Long Creek Youth Development Center and the Mountain View Youth Development Center. The pilot project is scheduled to terminate on April 1, 2008. This resolve extends the termination date for the pilot project to April 1, 2010. It also requires the Commissioner of Corrections to submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters a summary of the pilot project no later than January 15, 2010.