An Act Authorizing Rulemaking Concerning Attorney Training, Standards and Qualifications by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  rules governing attorney training, standards and qualifications adopted by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services are designated as major substantive rules; and

Whereas,  the rules governing attorney training, standards and qualifications need immediate strengthening, as recommended by the Sixth Amendment Center; and

Whereas,  waiting for submission of stronger rules to the 130th Legislature prolongs the existing challenges to those in need of high-quality attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants, juveniles, parents and others; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §1804, sub-§4, ¶D,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. RRR, §1 and affected by §4, is further amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the provisions governing the rule-making authority of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services to create a time period during which the rules governing attorney training, standards and qualifications are routine technical rules. This allows the commission to adopt strengthened rules through regular rulemaking and have the rules in place more quickly than the major substantive rules process would allow. Any rules adopted after October 1, 2021 are major substantive rules.