PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Allow the Department of Corrections To Certify Community Intervention Programs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  34-A MRSA §1206-A  is enacted to read:
§ 1206-A. Certification of community intervention programs
 
1.  Definitions.   As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
A.  "Community agency" means a person, a public or private nonprofit organization or a firm, partnership or business corporation operated for profit that:
 
(1) Operates a community intervention program; and
 
(2) Is not an administrative unit of the Federal Government or State Government.
 
B.  "Community intervention program" means a program operated at the community level providing services designed to intervene in the risk factors for reoffending, including, but not limited to, mental health, sex offender treatment, social service and substance abuse treatment programs, but not including a batterers' intervention program under Title 19-A, section 4014.
 
C.  "Nonprofit organization" means any agency, institution or organization that is, or is owned and operated by, one or more corporations or associations, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and that has a territory of operations that extends to a neighborhood, community or region or the State.
 
2.  Rules establishing standards and procedures for certification.   The department may adopt rules that establish standards and procedures for certification of community intervention programs. The department may review and certify programs that meet the standards and may require certification of programs providing services to clients of the department, regardless of whether the department disburses funds to the community agency. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Corrections to adopt rules for the certification of community intervention programs. Certification ensures that programs that provide intervention services are based on best practices and are proven to be effective in changing criminal behaviors.