130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1950		LR 2578(02)
	An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Create a Plan To Incorporate the Probate Courts into the Judicial Branch
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Judiciary
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$3,836,772	$7,361,601	$7,473,409
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$3,836,772	$7,361,601	$7,473,409
Legislative Cost/Study
	The general operating expenses of the Commission to Evaluate the Incorporation of the Probate Court into the Judicial Branch are estimated to be $1,250 in fiscal year 2026-27 and $2,500 in fiscal year 2026-27. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $2,774,272 beginning in fiscal year 2022-23 to the newly established Court - Probate program within the Judicial Department to establish one Chief Judge position, 8 Judge positions, 9 Deputy Marshal positions, 2 Law Clerk positions, 2 Judicial Administrative Assistant positions, one Information Technology Field Technician position, one Facility Engineer position, one Process Planning Manager position and one Help Desk Technician position and provides funding for related All Other costs. This appropriation also includes funding for Judicial Department professional services provided in probate court cases including guardian ad litem, visitor, interpreter, court reporter and mediator services and for funding for Judicial Department probate court facility costs, general operations, technology costs and supplies. These estimates largely assume six months of costs and services in fiscal year 2022-23 based on a January 1, 2023 effective date.
	The bill also includes a General Fund appropriation of $1,062,500 beginning in fiscal year 2022-23 to the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services for the costs beginning January 1, 2023 of counsel for probate court cases to be provided for indigent parties entitled to court-appointed counsel under Title 18-C of the Maine Revised Statutes .