132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1766		LR 1103(02)
	An Act to Incorporate Probate Judges into the Maine Judicial Branch
	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		$0	$421,894	$433,696	$3,908,244
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$421,894	$433,696	$3,908,244
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Judicial Branch of $421,894 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish one Process Specialist position and one Project Manager position to support implementation of the process to incorporate probate judges into the Maine Judicial Branch.
	The responsibilities created by this bill will continue beyond the current biennium and will expand as additional phases of the transition to a state Probate Court are implemented. The Judicial Branch anticipates that additional resources will be required in future biennia beyond those provided in this bill. Any requests for funding to support ongoing implementation, including staffing and related costs, would be made through a future biennial budget process and are not reflected in this fiscal note.
	In order to provide attorneys for the probate cases, the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services will require a General Fund appropriation of $4,000,000 beginning in fiscal year 2031.