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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1139
S.P. 470 In Senate, March 18, 2025
An Act to Provide Funding for Essential Services for Victims of
Crimes
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative HENDERSON of Rumford and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, DUSON of
Cumberland, Representatives: CARLOW of Buxton, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, GATTINE of
Westbrook, STOVER of Boothbay.
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1Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3Whereas, it is anticipated that federal grants to the Department of Health and Human
4 Services from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office
5 for Victims of Crime may soon be reduced; and
6Whereas, in order to offset the loss of those federal grants, it is important that the
7 State provide funds as soon as possible; and
8Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
9 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
10 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
11 therefore,
12Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
13Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶J, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. MMMM,
14 §2, is further amended to read:
15 J. Any balance remaining in the Office of Behavioral Health program, General Fund
16 account at the end of any fiscal year to be carried forward for use by this program in
17 the next fiscal year; and
18Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶K, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. MMMM,
19 §3, is amended to read:
20 K. Any balance remaining in the Drinking Water Enforcement program, General Fund
21 account at the end of any fiscal year to be carried forward for use by this program in
22 the next fiscal year for the same purpose. ; and
23Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §1591, sub-§2, ¶L is enacted to read:
24 L. Any balance remaining in the accounts of the Department of Health and Human
25 Services appropriated for the purpose of supplementing grants to the department under
26 the federal victim assistance formula grant program administered by the United States
27 Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime
28 pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984 at the end of any fiscal year to be
29 carried forward for use in the next fiscal year for the same purpose.
30Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
31 allocations are made.
32HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
33Purchased Social Services 0228
34 Initiative: Provides ongoing funding to replace current and anticipated reductions in grants
35 to the department under the federal victim assistance formula grant program administered
36 by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims
37 of Crime pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $6,000,000 $6,000,000
__________ __________
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GENERAL FUND TOTAL $6,000,000 $6,000,000
1Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
2 takes effect when approved.
4SUMMARY
5 This bill provides ongoing funding for crime victim services and requires any balance
6 remaining at the end of a fiscal year appropriated to the Department of Health and Human
7 Services to supplement grants under the federal victim assistance formula grant program
8 to be carried forward to the next fiscal year for the same purpose.
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