132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1893		LR 112(02)
	An Act to Establish an Independent Office of the Child Advocate
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$258,889	$370,286	$386,465
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$258,889	$370,286	$386,465
	Federal Expenditures Fund		$0	($37,150)	($57,150)	($57,150)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill includes a General Fund appropriation to the Department of Administration and Financial Services of $258,889 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish the Office of the Child Advocate (office) effective October 1, 2026. This includes deappropriating and deallocating funding from the contract for the current Child Welfare Ombudsman Program and establishing 3 positions in the office on October 1, 2026. The bill also establishes 2 new positions in the office, beginning April 1, 2027. A one-time appropriation of $100,000 is included for the transition costs including office needs, staffing, contracting services, and training.
	The bill provides an ongoing General Fund appropriation to the Legislature of $1,050 in fiscal year 2026-27 for the costs of legislators participating on the Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate.
	Any additional costs to the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Corrections to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.