S.P. 480 - L.D. 1482
Resolve, to Establish a Plan to Enhance the Enforcement of Civil and Criminal Violations
Sec. 1. Plan; joint responsibility. Resolved: That the Secretary of State, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Commissioner of Marine Resources, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Governor, referred to as the "planning task force," shall jointly develop a plan to enhance the enforcement of civil and criminal violations and the collection of fines, penalties, forfeitures and other charges. The plan must implement a central credentialing registry and may include an expansion of the jurisdiction of the District Court Violations Bureau. The plan must include the following elements:
1. Prohibition of the renewal or reissuance of any license, certification or registration by any department or agency of the State if the applicant has not paid in full all fines, penalties, forfeitures, fees, assessments or any other charges imposed by a court in this State;
2. A single, current database of all persons who have not paid in full any fines, penalties, forfeitures, fees, assessments or any other charges imposed by a court in this State, including:
A. An update process to ensure accuracy and timeliness of information to the greatest extent possible; and
B. A means for each department and agency that issues licenses, certification or registrations to obtain information in the database within the time period that meets that department's or agency's needs;
3. Revision of license, certification and registration applications that includes appropriate questions to be answered by the applicant to provide the information necessary for the department or agency to determine whether the applicant has paid in full all fines, penalties, forfeitures, fees, assessments or any other charges imposed by a court in this State;
4. The ability and capacity to compare applications with the database;
5. Revision of the Uniform Summons and Complaint and the Violation Summons and Complaint consistent with the remainder of the plan;
6. Coordination with existing or planned information systems within departments and agencies. The plan must include consideration of the use of federal resources to implement information systems, including child support collections; and
7. A method of identifying violations that are currently crimes that would be more appropriately classified as civil violations; and be it further
Sec. 2. Additional elements. Resolved: That the plan may include any other elements the planning task force determines appropriate including but not limited to an analysis of the benefits and disadvantages of expanding the jurisdiction of the District Court Violations Bureau to include all civil violations; and be it further
Sec. 3. Cooperation. Resolved: That other state departments and agencies shall provide assistance as requested by the planning task force; and be it further
Sec. 4. Participants. Resolved: That each member of the planning task force may designate an individual within that member's department or office to serve on the planning task force as that member's designee. The planning task force may request additional state employees, policymakers and legislators to participate in carrying out this resolve; and be it further
Sec. 5. Drafting assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide assistance in drafting legislation to implement the planning task force's recommendations; and be it further
Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That the planning task force shall submit a report, including any implementing legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and to the Legislative Council of the 119th Legislature by December 15, 1998.
Effective June 30, 1998, unless otherwise indicated.
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