122nd Legislature, Second Regular Session Accepted Bills By Broad Subject as of 12/2/2005

BROAD SUBJECT: Judiciary
<<< Previous Page
SPONSOR: Representative Bowles of Sanford
LR 2878ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Allow the Display of POW-MIA Flags at Courthouses
SUMMARY
This bill would authorize the District Court, Superior Court or Supreme Judicial Court to display the POW-MIA flag at a courthouse whenever the flag of the United States is flown.
SPONSOR: Senator Bryant, B of Oxford
LR 2464ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Ensure the Authority of "Do Not Resuscitate" Orders in Advance Health-care Directives
SUMMARY
This bill would clarify that a health care directive containing a "DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE" order must be followed by emergency responders.
SPONSOR: Representative Davis, G of Falmouth
LR 2450ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Provide Adult Adoptees Access to Their Original Birth Certificates
SUMMARY
This bill would permit an adult adoptee to obtain a copy of the adoptee's original, unaltered bith certificate. It also permits a birth parent to express a preference regarding contact with the adoptee by filing a contact preference form with the registrar of vital records.
SPONSOR: Representative Dunn of Bangor
LR 2920ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-11-28
An Act Regarding Child Custody Evaluations
SUMMARY
This bill provides good-faith protection for psychologists conducting child custody evaluations similar to protections existing in Florida and West Virginia.
SPONSOR: Representative Flood of Winthrop
LR 2590ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Allocate Child Support Appropriately
SUMMARY
This bill would authorize a court to stop the collection process of back child support if the parent paying the support can prove that the child has been living with that parent during the time of nonpayment of the support.
SPONSOR: Representative Grose of Woolwich
LR 2448ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Living Wills of Terminally Ill Persons
SUMMARY
This bill proposes to set forth standard language to be included in living wills to provide increased guidance and certainty when a patient is terminally ill or when a doctor has determined that all lifesaving means have been exhausted.
SPONSOR: Representative Hotham of Dixfield
LR 2741ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Protect Access to Social Security Numbers
SUMMARY
This bill would prohibit the use of social security numbers as account numbers by public and private entities.
SPONSOR: Senator Mayo of Sagadahoc
LR 2560ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
SUMMARY
This bill would make all employees of banks, savings institutions and credit unions mandated reporters of elder financial abuse.
SPONSOR: Representative Merrill of Appleton
LR 2642ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Protect Businesses from Unnecessary Eminent Domain Takings
SUMMARY
This bill would require the State to make a showing that the taking is an absolute necessity to accomplish the public purpose. In all instances where it is possible, the State may take only the portion of the business that is necessary for a public purpose so as to allow the private business to continue. This bill would be retroactive in that it would apply to any taking in which the terms of the taking have not been finally determined, including both the process of determining price or a timely filed appeal of that value determination.
SPONSOR: Representative Mills, J of Farmington
LR 2778ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Improve the Efficiency of the District Court with Regard to Certain Evictions
SUMMARY
This bill is the recommendation of a working group of representatives of landlords, tenants and participants from the judicial system requested by the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary to suggest methods of improving the efficiency of the District Court in handling evictions for nonpayment while still ensuring substantive and procedural due process to tenants. This will give the District Court flexibility to adjudicate evictions for nonpayment while nonpayment of rent when the tenant fails to appear in court It would authorize the court to designate a quasi-judicial officer to determine whether the landlord is in compliance with the forcible entry and detainer process, determine that the only issue is nonpayment of rent and then grant judgment if the tenant fails to appeal. A request for a hearing or the inclusion of any other issues would require the case to be scheduled for the usual eviction docket in that court. This process would be employed in courts in which eviction dockets are not scheduled on a weekly basis.
LR 2903ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Correct Deficiencies in the Divorce Laws
SUMMARY
This bill would clarify the grounds and procedures for a divorce in cases in which one spouse has become permanently medically incompetent. This bill would also clarify that the trial court may entertain requests for and issue orders for spousal support while a case is on appeal.
SPONSOR: Representative Pelletier-Simpson of Auburn
LR 2459ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Clarify Laws Governing Eminent Domain
SUMMARY
This bill would provide more limited-use eminent domain power than was allowed in the Kelo decision.
SPONSOR: Senator Perry, J of Penobscot
LR 2915ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-10-27
An Act To Protect Children from Contact with Convicted Sex Offenders
SUMMARY
This bill would allow a court to consider persons with whom a parent lives in determining whether to grant primary residence or contact. It would allow the court to prohibit residence or contact with a parent who lives with a convicted sex offender.
SPONSOR: Senator Strimling of Cumberland
LR 2571ACCEPTED DATE: 2005-11-28
An Act To Provide Notification to a Person Who Holds a Protection from Abuse Order When the Person against Whom the Order Is Held Attempts To Purchase a Firearm
SUMMARY
This bill provides notification to a person who holds a protection from abuse order when the person against whom the order is held attempts to purchase a firearm.

<<< Previous Page - Next Page >>>
Legislative Information Maine Legislature Download:  Word, PDF
Disclaimer
Legislative Information Office
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
voice: (207) 287-1692, fax: 287-1580, tty: (207) 287-6826