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LD246 • 2025

An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers

An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers

Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Rachel Talbot Ross
Last action
2025-06-22
Official status
Became Law without Governor's Signature
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers

An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers Sponsor: Senator Rachel Talbot Ross Reference committee: Judiciary Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers Sponsor: Senator Rachel Talbot Ross Reference committee: Judiciary Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR0203(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR0203(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 246 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • S- ) 3JUDICIARY 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
  • 5STATE OF MAINE 6SENATE 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8FIRST SPECIAL SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to S.P.
Filed

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR0203(03) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR0203(03) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 246 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • S- ) 3JUDICIARY 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
  • 5STATE OF MAINE 6SENATE 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8FIRST SPECIAL SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to S.P.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-22 Governor

    Became Law without Governor's Signature

  2. 2025-06-09 House

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  3. 2025-06-09 Senate

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED , in concurrence.

  4. 2025-06-03 Committee

    Reported Out; OTP-AM/ONTP/OTP-AM

  5. 2025-03-12 Committee

    Work Session Held

  6. 2025-03-12 Committee

    Voted; Divided Report

  7. 2025-01-21 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary Caregivers
Sponsor:
Senator Rachel Talbot Ross
Reference committee:
Judiciary
Governor action:
Became Law without Governor's Signature

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Page 1 - 132LR0203(04)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
S.P. 112 - L.D. 246
An Act to Establish the Option of Sentencing Alternatives for Primary
Caregivers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1602, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. A, §2,
is amended to read:
B. Second, the court shall determine the maximum term of imprisonment to be
imposed by considering all other relevant sentencing factors, both aggravating and
mitigating, appropriate to the case. Relevant sentencing factors include, but are not
limited to, the character of the individual, the individual's criminal history, the effect
of the offense on the victim, the effect of the potential term of imprisonment on those
relying on the individual as a primary caregiver and the protection of the public interest.
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1602, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Class D or Class E crimes. In imposing a sentencing alternative for a Class D or
Class E crime pursuant to section 1502 that is contested by the parties and setting the
appropriate length of that term as well as any unsuspended portion of that term
accompanied by a period of probation or administrative release, the court shall consider all
relevant sentencing factors, both aggravating and mitigating, appropriate to the case.
Relevant sentencing factors include, but are not limited to, the character of the individual,
the individual's criminal history, the effect of the offense on the victim, the effect of the
potential sentencing alternative on those relying on the individual as a primary caregiver
and the protection of the public interest.
Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §1602, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Primary caregiver defined. As used in this section, "primary caregiver" means an
individual who has the greatest responsibility for the care of a minor, a dependent person
or an incapacitated adult as defined by Title 22, section 3472, subsection 10.
LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2025
CHAPTER
402
PUBLIC LAW