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Bill > LD419

ME LD419

ME LD419
An Act to Increase the Transparency and Accountability of the Maine Information and Analysis Center

summary

Introduced
02/04/2025
In Committee
02/04/2025
Crossed Over
06/10/2025
Passed
06/11/2025
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
132nd Legislature

Bill Summary

This bill does the following. 1. It creates the position of auditor of the Maine Information and Analysis Center within the Office of the Attorney General. 2. It adds a definition for "de-identified" and requires that reports submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and posted on the publicly accessible website of the auditor of the Maine Information and Analysis Center be de-identified. 3. It provides that the powers and duties of the auditor include ensuring that the center operates within the law and in a manner that preserves the privacy, civil liberties and civil rights of all people in the State. 4. It requires that reports of the auditor to the committee that are posted on the auditor's publicly accessible website may not contain any records that are confidential or otherwise not authorized by law to be disseminated to the public. 5. It specifies that the identity of any person who submits a good faith complaint to the auditor against the center using the auditor's publicly accessible website or by other means is confidential and that the auditor must maintain the identity of such persons as confidential. 6. It specifies that classified or confidential information that is shared by the center with a private entity is not considered a public record under the Freedom of Access Act.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a new position of Auditor within the Office of the Attorney General to provide oversight of the Maine Information and Analysis Center (MIAC), a state intelligence-gathering organization. The Auditor, appointed by the Attorney General, will be responsible for ensuring the center's transparency and accountability while protecting individuals' privacy and civil rights. The Auditor must maintain a public website with de-identified informational reports, provide annual and interim reports to the legislative committee overseeing criminal justice and public safety, and allow people to submit questions or complaints about the center. The Auditor can review center activities but cannot require corrective actions or disclose personally identifying information. The bill also stipulates that any non-confidential information shared by the center with private entities is considered a public record under the Freedom of Access Act. Additionally, the Auditor's first report must review the center's record-keeping, information-sharing practices, and compliance with federal regulations on criminal intelligence collection, with the potential for follow-up legislation based on the findings. Key protections include maintaining complainant confidentiality and ensuring that published reports do not contain sensitive or legally restricted information.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (10)

Last Action

CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (on 06/25/2025)

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