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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. III, §2, is further amended to read:
 
A. The Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, shall appoint to the District Court 3638 judges. At least one judge must be appointed from each district who is a resident of a county in which the district lies, except that in District 3 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies; in District 6 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies; and in District 9 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies. Two judges must be appointed to the District Court and assigned in a manner that ensures geographic distribution and the ability of the court to address drug-related criminal matters expeditiously. Each District Court Judge has a term of office of 7 years.
 
To be eligible for appointment as a District Judge, a person must be a member of the bar of the State. The term "District Judge" includes the Chief Judge and Deputy Chief Judge.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE
 
Administration - Attorney General 0310
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for 2 Assistant Attorney General positions that will be dedicated to prosecuting drug crimes.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	2.000	
Personal Services	$0	$163,590	
All Other	$0	$9,882	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$173,472	

ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$173,472	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$173,472	

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS)
 
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 0679
 
Initiative: Provides funds for substance abuse treatment programs.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15	
All Other	$0	$750,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$750,000	

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS)			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$750,000	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$750,000	

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
 
Initiative: Provides funding for 2 District Court Judge positions, 2 Deputy Marshal positions and 2 Assistant Clerk positions and related costs to address drug-related criminal matters.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	6.000	
Personal Services	$0	$583,566	
All Other	$0	$55,500	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$639,066	

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$639,066	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$639,066	

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Drug Enforcement Agency 0388
 
Initiative: Provides funds to support drug enforcement activities.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15	
All Other	$0	$920,812	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$920,812	

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$920,812	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$920,812	

SECTION TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$2,483,350	
			
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$2,483,350	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report. It creates 2 new District Court Judge positions within the Judicial Department instead of 4 as proposed in the bill. These judges are appointed to the District Court in a manner that ensures geographic distribution and the ability of the court to address drug-related criminal matters expeditiously.
This amendment provides ongoing funding for 2 Assistant Attorney General positions in the Department of the Attorney General dedicated to prosecuting drug crimes instead of 4 as proposed in the bill.
This amendment reduces the ongoing General Fund appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to support drug enforcement activities from $1,692,123 to $920,812.
Finally, this amendment also provides an ongoing General Fund appropriation of $750,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse treatment programs.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)