Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §1505-A is enacted to read:

§1505-A.__Cold case homicide squad

1. Squad established.__The Department of Public Safety shall establish a cold case homicide squad, referred to in this section as the "squad."__The purpose of the squad is to work exclusively on unsolved murders in the State.

2. Report and sunset.__The Department of Public Safety shall dissolve the squad by October 30, 2004 unless directed by the Legislature to continue the squad.__The Commissioner of Public Safety shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters by January 1, 2004 evaluating the success of the squad and making recommendations on continuation of the squad.

Sec. 2. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

2001-02 2002-03

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

State Police

Positions - Legislative Count (3.000) (3.000)

Personal Services $58,812 $79,217

All Other 18,471 15,333

Capital Expenditures 31,200

Appropriates funds for the General Fund share of 3 additional State Police Detective positions and operating costs necessary to establish a cold case homicide squad.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ________ ______

TOTAL $108,483 $94,553

Sec. 3. Allocation. The following funds are allocated from the Highway Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

2001-02 2002-03