121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 496
		An Act To Amend the Period of Probation for Class D Crimes
		LR1728(01)
		Fiscal Note for Original Bill
		Sponsor: Sen. LaFountain of York
		Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
	Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
					Projections	Projections
			2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Net Cost (Savings):
	General Fund		$0	$793,980	$1,508,242	$2,865,052
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$793,980	$1,508,242	$2,865,052
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	General Fund appropriations will be required to fund approximately 10 new probation officers in fiscal year 2004-05 and an additional 9 (19 total) probation officers in fiscal year 2005-06 to accomodate the one year increase in probation time for Class D crimes.  These positions will be needed to continue the average caseload of probation officers at the Department of Corrections at 150.  Amending the period of probation for Class D crimes could also create the potential for the courts' caseload to increase significantly.  Although this bill alone may not justify increasing the number of judicial positions, the increased workload may impede the courts' ability to deliver quality justice in a timely manner.