Sec. 7. 19-A MRSA §3301, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

1. Initiating or responding tribunal. A tribunal District Court of this State or the department may serve as an initiating or responding tribunal in a proceeding brought under this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act to determine that the petitioner is a parent of a particular child or to determine that a respondent is a parent of that child.

SUMMARY

This bill provides that a jury trial is not available in a proceeding to establish paternity. Federal law mandates this change. The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, Section 331, 110 Stat. 2105 amended Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 666(a)(5) to mandate that each state must have in effect procedures providing that the parties to an action to establish paternity are not entitled to a jury trial.

The bill also amends the definition of "applicant" to include those persons receiving services under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 19-A, section 2108.