131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1468		LR 884(02)
	An Act to Ensure Equal Treatment by the Law Court by Requiring 7 Justices to Decide All Cases
	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		$11,750	$15,667	$15,667	$15,667
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$11,750	$15,667	$15,667	$15,667
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill provides ongoing General Fund appropriations to the Judicial Department of $11,750 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $15,667 in fiscal year 2024-25 for per diem payments to active retired justices of the Supreme Judicial Court assigned to sit on a Law Court panel so that the panel is composed of 5 justices in instances when fewer than 5 Supreme Court Justices are available to sit and qualified to act in an action or proceeding before the Court. These estimates are based on the current per diem rates for active retired justices of $350 per day and $200 per half day. If per diem rates are increased to $500 per day and $350 per half day as recommended in the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 biennium, additional General Fund appropriations may be required to cover the cost associated with active retired judges assigned to sit on Law Court panels.