Sen. Anne Carney

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $6 million from Maine's General Fund for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to support victims of crimes. The funding is directed to the Department of Health and Human Services to replace anticipated reductions in federal grants provided under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. These resources are intended to maintain essential services for crime victims when federal assistance decreases.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's protection from abuse laws to allow courts to issue final orders that keep defendants away from specific locations or within a certain distance of the victim. The legislation grants judges the authority to explicitly prohibit defendants from being present at designated places as part of a protection order. To support this change, the bill allocates $6,200 in state funding for the Judicial Department to update relevant court forms and case management systems. The new provisions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary commission to study and recommend ways to prevent deed fraud, which occurs when someone falsely claims ownership of property to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. The commission will consist of 13 members appointed by Senate and House leaders, including representatives from law enforcement, the legal community, real estate brokers, and government agencies. Its primary duties are to gather data on the frequency and nature of deed fraud cases in Maine and to evaluate current state laws and practices to identify improvements. The commission must complete its study and submit a report to the next legislative session, with all appointments required within 30 days of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs state funding to the judicial branch specifically for hiring guardians ad litem to represent children in family court cases. The money must be used to pay for these legal representatives when at least one parent lacks a lawyer and the family qualifies as financially indigent. Additionally, the bill requires the courts to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing how the funds were spent and estimating future financial needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural amendment that adds a fiscal note to a separate piece of legislation aimed at increasing the maximum debt service limit for Maine schools. The amendment itself does not change any policies or directly affect students, teachers, or school districts. Its only function is to provide financial details required for the review of the larger bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to create a pilot program that reimburses MaineCare members for treating up to 25 individuals diagnosed with personality disorders or primary emotional dysregulation. The program will use a bundled payment rate covering various services, including dialectical behavior therapy, psychiatry, nursing, case management, and skills coaching. Funding of $650,000 is allocated for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to support this initiative, and the department must submit a report on the program's effectiveness by November 7, 2025, to determine if it should be expanded.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's environmental laws to remove specific criteria from the definition of environmental justice and allocates state funding to the Department of Environmental Protection. The financial provisions authorize approximately $460,000 in the 2023-24 fiscal year to hire staff, manage technology, and cover costs for facilitator services and meetings. These changes aim to support the department's operations and workforce while adjusting the legal framework for environmental justice initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $300,000 from the state's General Fund to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. The money is designated for a grant program that helps community organizations create career exploration opportunities for middle and high school students. These initiatives aim to improve the health, well-being, and academic success of youth while promoting social equity in the region. The funding is intended as a one-time appropriation for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing legislation to establish a new drug treatment court in Aroostook County and provides specific funding to support it. The law directs the State Controller to move money from the Opioid Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Fund to cover costs for pretrial services, legal representation, and an assistant district attorney position. These funds are allocated to the Departments of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, and the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill also updates the title to reflect these new provisions regarding drug court funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year pilot program for the 2024-2025 school year requiring schools serving students in grades 6 through 12 to provide menstrual products like tampons and pads at no cost. To help cover these expenses, the Department of Education will reimburse school districts for 90% of the costs incurred to purchase the products and will also fund coinless dispensers installed in school bathrooms until the allocated money runs out. The Department of Education is required to submit a report by January 15, 2026, detailing the number of schools that received reimbursement, the total amount spent, and recommendations for making this access permanent. The program is funded through a one-time appropriation of $300,000 from the General Fund.