Sen. Carney’s bill to fund services and staff at the new drug treatment court in Aroostook County receives unanimous committee support

In the 131st Maine State Legislature, former Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, introduced the legislative proposal to create the new drug treatment court. Senator Carney has sponsored a bill to fund its services and staff.

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, March 27, the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary voted unanimously to advance LD 779, “An Act to Fund the Aroostook County Drug Treatment Court.” The bill, sponsored by Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, would fund services and staff at the new drug treatment court in Aroostook County. It would also allocate funds to the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and to the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. If LD 779 becomes law, these funds are projected to become available after July 1, 2026.

“I’m pleased to see the Judiciary Committee continue our work to expand access to justice for Mainers impacted by the opioid crisis and substance use disorder by supporting this bill to fund the Treatment and Recovery Court in the County that we established last year,” said Sen. Carney. “Funding the court’s services and staff will allow it to fulfill its mission to offer local treatment and recovery options for individuals with substance use disorder who interact with the criminal justice system. Given the current lack of a local specialty court, this is an important investment in a corner of our state where it is needed most.”

LD 779 would also allocate funds to allow OBH to contract with an organization to provide pre-trial services and to establish an Assistant District Attorney position at the court.

Aroostook County is the only county in Maine that is not currently served by a specialty court.

LD 779 now faces votes in both the Senate and the House.

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