Whereas, the number and frequency of school bomb threats throughout the State during recent months have increased significantly; and

Whereas, bomb threats occurred at schools in 14 of the State's 16 counties during the 1999-2000 school year; and

Whereas, school bomb threats represent a significant danger to the health and safety of the students and staffs of schools throughout the State; and

Whereas, significant public resources are expended in responding to school bomb threats, particularly by schools and by municipalities; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §3009 is enacted to read:

§3009.__Scheduling priority

The court, in scheduling cases, shall give priority to cases involving making a bomb threat to a school.

Sec. 2. 15 MRSA §3304, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 624, Pt. B, §14, is further amended to read:

1. Issuance and contents. The summons issued by the law enforcement officer must include the signature of the law enforcement officer, a brief description of the alleged juvenile crime, the time and place of the alleged juvenile crime and the time and place the juvenile is to appear in court. The summons must also include a statement of the constitutional rights of the juvenile, including the right to have an attorney present at the hearing on the petition and to have an attorney appointed, if indigent. The summons must also include a notice that the case may be informally adjusted by a juvenile community corrections officer.