130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 291
S.P. 127 In Senate, February 3, 2021
An Act Regarding Continuances for Protection from Abuse
Hearings
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 1, 2021. Referred to the Committee
on Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Senator: DIAMOND of Cumberland.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §4006, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 and
3 affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:
4 1. Full hearing. Within 21 days of the filing of a complaint, unless the defendant has
5 requested a continuance to prepare for the hearing, a hearing must be held at which the
6 plaintiff must prove the allegation of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. If a request
7 for temporary, emergency or interim relief is denied, the hearing must be held as soon as
8 practicable within the 21-day period, unless the defendant has requested a continuance to
9 prepare for the hearing.
10 SUMMARY
11 This bill provides that the hearing on a protection from abuse complaint may be held
12 more than 21 days after the complaint was filed if the defendant requests a continuance to
13 prepare for the hearing. A hearing after the request for temporary, emergency or interim
14 relief has been denied may also be delayed if the defendant has requested a continuance.
Page 1 - 130LR0631(01)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 291, SP 127: 19-A.4006