ME LD1175

Transfers payment responsibility for court-appointed attorneys representing indigent parents and minors from the District Court to the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services

Expands the Commission's jurisdiction to cover indigent parties and minor children in civil cases where federal or state law gives courts discretion to provide representation

Applies to guardianship proceedings, including counsel for nonconsenting indigent parents and attorneys appointed to represent minors whose interests may be inadequately represented

Covers adoption proceedings, requiring the Commission to pay for attorneys appointed to represent indigent parents and minor indigent parents when the adoptee is unrelated to the petitioner

Extends to termination of parental rights cases and child protection matters where a guardian ad litem or child requests legal counsel for the child