132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 504		LR 735(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 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$234,425	$418,729	$433,230	$448,253
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$234,425	$418,729	$433,230	$448,253
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Beginning January 1, 2026, 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 $234,425 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $418,729 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish one Judge position, one Deputy Marshal position and one Assistant Clerk position, effective January 1, 2026, 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.