MCILS will be conducting forums on three sets of upcoming rule changes. The changes relate to supervision, case load standards, and audit procedures. There will be a separate forum on each issue. The forums will begin at 4:15 p.m. on the following dates, and are expected to last two hours. We anticipate imposing an initial time limit on comments until everyone who would like to be able to speak has done so. We anticipate that time limit will be five minutes. If there is enough time, we may open comments up after everyone has had an opportunity to speak. We have distributed the working drafts of the documents behind these changes through our commission packet, and will send them around again early next week so that we are sure everyone has them.
These forums will be conducted over the Zoom teleconference platform. Each will use the link below. You will be required to register when you sign on. This requirement is to ensure compliance with the record keeping requirements of 5 M.R.S. § 8051-B.
MCILS is required by law to make the changes that will be forthcoming. We invite your comment in any form, but it would be most useful if you are able to provide specific proposed edits to the documents, or, if you are able to provide alternative proposals. We understand that no one much likes being subjected to rules, but we do not have the option of not implementing rules on these subjects.
The forums will begin at 4:15 p.m. each day in an effort to make it possible for counsel to attend after the court day has ended. We recognize that there may be people who cannot participate in the evening. We feel that where all of our meetings in the past have occurred during the Court day, it is appropriate to provide relief from that issue.
You do not have to attend the forums to provide feedback. If you would like to provide feedback, but cannot attend or prefer to provide your feedback in writing, then you may email your proposed edits or your alternative proposal to mcils@maine.gov. There is no set deadline for doing so, but we are working to formalize a proposed amended ruleset, and your input will be most productive if you provide it earlier than later. The ruleset may be submitted to the Commission as early as April 26th. This is not yet the public comment period for an actual proposed rule. Nothing about this opportunity will prevent you from providing comment during the rulemaking process.
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