Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§3-A, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 173, §5, is repealed and the following is enacted in its place:

A.__For all fees collected by the Judicial Department after July 1, 2005, 7% must be deposited in the fund.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§3-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 173, §5, is amended to read:

B. A surcharge of $5 $10 must be imposed by a court on each civil fine, penalty or forfeiture imposed by the court and deposited in the fund.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

Maine Civil Legal Services Fund

Initiative: Provides funds for an appropriation to support legal services to persons who are otherwise not able to pay for these services as determined by Title 4, section 18-A, subsection 1, paragraph B.

GENERAL FUND 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $400,000 $400,000

__________ __________

GENERAL FUND TOTAL $400,000 $400,000

SUMMARY

The bill provides that 7% of any fee collected after July 1, 2005 by the Judicial Department will be paid into the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund. It also increases from $5 to $10 the surcharge, imposed by the court on each civil fine, penalty or forfeiture imposed by the court, to be paid into the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund. The bill also provides an appropriation of $400,000 each year for fiscal years 2005-06 and 2006-07 to support legal services to persons who are otherwise not able to pay for those services.