PART A

Sec. A-1. 15 MRSA §1023, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 758, §20, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

4.__Limitations on authority.__A bail commissioner may not:

A.__Set preconviction bail for a defendant confined in jail or held under arrest by virtue of any order issued by a court in which bail has not been authorized;

B.__Change bail set by a court; or

C.__In a case involving domestic violence, set preconviction bail for a defendant before making a good faith effort to obtain from the arresting officer, the district attorney, a jail employee or other law enforcement officer:

(1)__A brief history of the alleged abuser;

(2)__The relationship of the parties;

(3)__The name, address, phone number and date of birth of the victim; and

(4)__Existing conditions of protection from abuse orders, conditions of bail and conditions of probation.

Sec. A-2. 15 MRSA §1023, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1989, c. 147, §1, is further amended to read:

7. Mandatory training. As a condition of appointment and continued service, a bail commissioner must successfully complete a bail training program, as prescribed and scheduled by the Chief Judge of the District Court, not later than one year 180 days following appointment, unless the Chief Judge of the District Court determines that the bail commissioner is qualified to carry out the responsibilities of a bail commissioner based on equivalent experience or training. The Maine Criminal Justice Academy shall provide assistance to the Chief Judge of the District Court in establishing an appropriate training program for bail commissioners. The program shall include instruction on the provisions of this chapter, the relevant constitutional provisions on bail and any other matters pertinent to bail that the Chief Judge of the District Court considers appropriate and necessary. The Chief Judge of the District Court may shall establish a regional continuing education program for bail commissioners that includes regular meetings of the bail