This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary to implement recommendations of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. The committee has not taken a position on the substance of this bill. By reporting this bill out, the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of this bill; instead, the committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of having a bill printed that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course. The committee is taking this action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposals contained in the bill. The bill clarifies when an indigent criminal defendant is entitled to counsel at state expense because there is a risk upon conviction that the accused may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1802, SP 701: 15.810