Bill > LD779

This bill provides funding and establishes the infrastructure for a new drug treatment court in Aroostook County, Maine, through a series of financial transfers and appropriations for fiscal year 2026-2027. Specifically, the bill directs the State Controller to transfer $561,283 from the Opioid Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Behavioral Health, and transfer $179,500 to the General Fund's unappropriated surplus. The bill creates funding for three key components: (1) a limited-period Assistant District Attorney position ($140,500), (2) pretrial services for the drug treatment court through a contract with an external entity ($561,283), and (3) legal representation for drug treatment court participants through the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services ($39,000). These one-time allocations aim to support the establishment and initial operations of a specialized court designed to provide treatment and support for individuals with substance use disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than traditional punitive approaches.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=779&snum=132