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LD 45

An Act Allowing The Department Of Corrections To Offset Some Of The Costs Of Technology Provided To Residents Of Correctional Facilities

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Lee

Allows Maine DOC to charge inmates tech-use fees and fund a Resident Technology Fund to offset technology costs, with about $38,598 annual revenue starting FY2025-26.

Signed by Governor
#prisonerfunds #prisoners #technologyfees
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Bill Summary · LD 45

Summary — LD 45 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act Allowing The Department Of Corrections To Offset Some Of The Costs Of Technology Provided to Residents of Correctional Facilities
Status: Signed by Governor (June 18, 2025)
Introduced: January 6, 2025
Subject: Prisoner funds; technology fees

Purpose

LD 45 authorizes the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) to establish a special fund and to charge and collect technology fees from residents of correctional facilities in order to offset some of the costs of providing and maintaining technology for those residents.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the "Resident Technology Fund" within the Department of Corrections as an Other Special Revenue Fund.
  • Authorizes the DOC to charge and collect fees from residents for the use of technology provided in correctional facilities.
  • Directs that revenue and appropriations in the Resident Technology Fund be used to offset the costs of providing and maintaining that technology.

(The bill text in the materials focuses on the fund and fee authority; it does not specify exact fee amounts or enumerate specific devices/services in the provided documents.)

Fiscal impact

  • Final fiscal note for the engrossed bill as amended (Committee Amendment A, H‑646) projects:
    • Appropriations/allocations to the DOC from Other Special Revenue Funds: $38,598 annually beginning FY 2025‑26.
    • Corresponding revenue increase to the DOC of $38,598 annually beginning FY 2025‑26 (reflecting estimated fee receipts).
  • Earlier preliminary and amendment-stage fiscal notes show alternate estimates (a $500 base allocation in an initial draft and a $59,088 estimate for another amendment version). The enacted/engrossed fiscal estimate used for the final action is $38,598 annually.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Residents (incarcerated persons) in Maine correctional facilities who use department-provided technology, since the bill permits charging fees for that use.
  • Secondary: Maine Department of Corrections — gains authority to collect fees and control a dedicated special revenue fund to pay technology costs.
  • State budget: Other Special Revenue Funds will reflect the new fund, associated appropriations, and projected fee revenue.

Timeline and procedural history

  • Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Jan 6, 2025). Multiple work sessions and committee actions followed; Committee Amendment "A" (H‑646) was adopted.
  • Passed by the Legislature (concurrence) on June 12, 2025.
  • Signed into law by the Governor on June 18, 2025. The Resident Technology Fund and fee authority are effective following enactment as provided in the statute.

Notes

  • The bill allows the DOC to offset technology costs but does not set statutory fee levels in the fiscal notes provided; fee amounts and implementation details would be determined by the DOC consistent with the new authority and applicable rulemaking or administrative processes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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