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An Act To Clarify That Petitions for Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States Are Included within the Definition of Indigent Legal Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §1802, sub-§4, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 419, §2, are amended to read:
 
B. An indigent party in a civil case in which the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Maine or federal or state law requires that the State provide representation; and
 
C. Juvenile defendants.; and
Sec. 2.  4 MRSA §1802, sub-§4, ¶D  is enacted to read:
 
D.  An indigent defendant or party or a juvenile for the purpose of filing, on behalf of that indigent defendant or party or juvenile, a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States from an adverse decision of the Law Court on a case for which services were previously provided to that defendant or party or juvenile pursuant to paragraph A, B or C.
Sec. 3. 4 MRSA §1804, sub-§3, ¶¶L and M, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. UUUU, §7, are amended to read:
 
L. Establish processes and procedures to acquire investigative and expert services that may be necessary for a case, including contracting for such services; and
 
M. Establish procedures for handling complaints about the performance of counsel providing indigent legal services.; and
Sec. 4.  4 MRSA §1804, sub-§3, ¶N  is enacted to read:
 
N.  Develop a procedure for approving requests by counsel for authorization to file a petition as described in section 1802, subsection 4, paragraph D.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES, MAINE COMMISSION ON
 
Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services Z112
 
Initiative: Provides funds for the commission to prepare and file petitions for certiorari to the Supreme Court on behalf of indigent parties or juveniles.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$9,000	$12,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$9,000	$12,000	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.