Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §90-B is enacted to read:

§90-B.__Address Confidentiality Program

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Address" means a residential street, school or work address of an individual, as specified on the individual's application to be a program participant under this chapter.

B.__"Application assistant" means an employee of a state or local agency, or of a nonprofit program that provides counseling, referral, shelter or other specialized service to victims of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault or stalking and who has been designated by the respective agency, and trained, accepted and registered by the secretary to assist individuals in the completion of program participation applications.

C.__"Designated address" means the address assigned to a program participant by the secretary pursuant to this section.

D.__"Mailing address" means an address that is recognized for delivery by the United States Postal Service.

E.__"Program" means the Address Confidentiality Program established in this section.

F.__"Program participant" means a person certified by the Secretary of State to participate in the program.

G.__"Secretary" means the Secretary of State.

2.__Program established.__The Address Confidentiality Program is established to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault by authorizing the use of designated addresses for such victims.__The program is administered by the secretary under the following application and certification procedures.

A.__Upon recommendation of an application assistant, an adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor or a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person may apply to the secretary to have a designated address assigned by the secretary to serve as the person's address or the address of the minor or incapacitated person.