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An Act To Provide Supplemental Appropriations and Deappropriations for the Judicial Department for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the 90-day period may not terminate until after the beginning of the next fiscal year; and
Whereas,  this legislation provides adjustments to appropriations from the General Fund for certain expenditures of the judicial branch for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017; 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  4 MRSA §1556, sub-§2, ¶I  is enacted to read:
 
I.  The hourly rate of compensation for the guardian ad litem may not be less than the rate of compensation established by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services pursuant to section 1804, subsection 3, paragraph F. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the court from establishing maximum fees and other reasonable requirements relating to guardian ad litem billing and compensation.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
 
Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
 
Initiative: Provides funding for the child protective guardian ad litem hourly rate increase from $50 per hour to $60 per hour effective July 1, 2016 to be consistent with the rate paid to attorneys appointed to represent parents.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$0	$443,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$443,000	

Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
 
Initiative: Provides funding for the increase in hours from a 37.5-hour workweek to a 40-hour workweek for the administrative bargaining unit, remaining employees in the professional and supervisory bargaining units and confidential nonmanagement employees effective the first pay period following July 1, 2016.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
Personal Services	$0	$770,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$770,000	

Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
 
Initiative: Provides funding for the increase in the executive branch network charges based on current users.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$93,776	$93,776	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$93,776	$93,776	

Courts - Supreme, Superior and District 0063
 
Initiative: Deappropriates one-time funds no longer needed for courthouse feasibility studies.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	($215,000)	$0	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	($215,000)	$0	

Judicial - Debt Service Z097
 
Initiative: Reduces funding by recognizing one-time savings in debt service costs in fiscal year 2015-16 and fiscal year 2016-17.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	($400,000)	($1,300,000)	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	($400,000)	($1,300,000)	

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2015-16	2016-17	
			
GENERAL FUND	($521,224)	$6,776	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	($521,224)	$6,776	
 
Sec. 3. Effective date. That section of this Act that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 4, section 1556, subsection 2, paragraph I takes effect July 1, 2016.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 127th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.