ME LD1266

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health to establish a working group to develop a plan for expanding adult drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, and veterans treatment courts statewide

Aims to ensure defendants in each prosecutorial district and county have access to specialty court dockets that allow those with serious substance use disorders to have criminal charges dismissed upon successful program completion

Working group membership includes representatives from the Judicial Department, Department of Corrections, Office of Child and Family Services, Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, pretrial supervision organizations, and reentry advocacy groups

Report with recommendations for expanding scope and geographic reach of treatment courts, along with suggested legislation, must be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary by January 1, 2026

Approved by the Governor on June 20, 2025 as Resolves Chapter 98