131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 580		LR 792(02)
	An Act to Improve Family Court Procedure
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Judiciary
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2023-24	FY 2024-25	Projections  FY 2025-26	Projections  FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$224,415	$396,881	$410,595	$424,803
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$224,415	$396,881	$410,595	$424,803
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Beginning January 1, 2024, this bill authorizes a party to a family matter involving a child to file a motion requesting that the court issue an ex parte emergency parental rights and responsibilities order under certain circumstances and requires the court to hold a hearing 21 days after issuance on the need for continuation of the order. The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Judicial Department of $224,415 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $396,881 in fiscal year 2024-25 to establish one Judge position, one Deputy Marshal position and one Assistant Clerk position, effective January 1, 2024, to implement the aforementioned process.
	Any additional costs to the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse associated with establishing a working group to evaluate the efficacy of the process for the emergency parental rights and responsibilities order are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.