An Act To Ensure a Continuing Home Court for Cases Involving Children
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §152, sub-§5-A is enacted to read:
(1) Any interim or final order then in effect concerning custody or other parental rights with respect to the minor child;
(2) Any proceeding involving custody or other parental rights with respect to the minor child currently filed or pending before any court of this State or another state, including before a probate court in this State; or
(3) Any other related action currently filed or pending before any court of this State or another state, including before a probate court in this State.
Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 377, §1, is further amended to read:
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. 3. 4 MRSA §251 is amended to read:
§ 251. General jurisdiction
Each judge may take the probate of wills and grant letters testamentary or of administration on the estates of all deceased persons who, at the time of their death, where inhabitants or residents of his the judge's county or who, not being residents of the State, died leaving estate to be administered in his the judge's county, or whose estate is afterwards found therein; and has jurisdiction of all matters relating to the settlement of such estates. He A judge may grant leave to adopt children, change the names of persons, appoint guardians for minors and others according to law , and has jurisdiction as to persons under guardianship, and as to whatever else is conferred on him by law , except in cases in which the District Court has jurisdiction over a child pursuant to section 152, subsection 5-A.
Sec. 4. 4 MRSA §251-A is enacted to read:
§ 251-A. Other proceedings involving parental rights; transfer to District Court
Sec. 5. 18-A MRSA §1-701, sub-§(a), as enacted by PL 2001, c. 163, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. 6. 18-A MRSA §5-102, sub-§(a), as enacted by PL 1979, c. 540, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. 7. 18-A MRSA §9-103, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:
§ 9-103. Jurisdiction
Sec. 8. 18-A MRSA §9-204, sub-§(a), as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
Mental Health Services - Children 0136
Initiative: Deappropriates funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Mental Health Services - Children account to offset the additional court costs of having all pending matters concerning a child and family unit addressed by a single District Court Judge.
GENERAL FUND | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
All Other
|
$0 | ($412,750) |
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|
GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $0 | ($412,750) |
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) | ||
DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
GENERAL FUND
|
$0 | ($412,750) |
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|
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $0 | ($412,750) |
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
Initiative: Provides funds for one Judge position, one Deputy Marshal position and one Assistant Clerk position due to an anticipated increase in the number of district court cases involving children.
GENERAL FUND | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
|
0.000 | 3.000 |
Personal Services
|
$0 | $297,950 |
All Other
|
$0 | $114,800 |
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|
GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $0 | $412,750 |
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT | ||
DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
GENERAL FUND
|
$0 | $412,750 |
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|
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $0 | $412,750 |
SECTION TOTALS | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
GENERAL FUND
|
$0 | $0 |
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|
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $0 | $0 |