An Act Regarding the Construction of New Court Facilities

Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §115,  as corrected by RR 2009, c. 1, §4, is amended by adding after the 3rd paragraph a new paragraph to read:

When new court facilities are planned, the designs must adequately address the space needs of the district attorneys. The Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's designee shall ensure that a statewide organization of district attorneys is consulted in the design of new court facilities. Charges may not be imposed on the district attorneys for space in court facilities used by the district attorneys.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §115,  as corrected by RR 2009, c. 1, §4, is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

When new court facilities are planned, the designs must adequately address the space needs of attorneys providing indigent legal services. The Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's designee shall ensure that the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services is consulted in the design of new court facilities. Charges may not be imposed on the attorneys providing indigent legal services or the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services for space in court facilities used by attorneys providing indigent legal services.

summary

This bill requires that the designs for new court facilities must adequately address the space needs of the district attorneys and the attorneys providing indigent legal services. The Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's designee shall ensure that a statewide organization of district attorneys and the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services are consulted when designing the new facilities.