Representative Lori Gramlich

LD 142	An Act To Increase Funding for the Fund for a Healthy Maine To Reduce Smoking	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 23, 2019
LD 142 This bill adjusts funding between the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention program and the Medical Care - Payments to Providers program in the Fund for a Healthy Maine within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund tobacco cessation services.

LD 187	An Act To Restore the Laws Governing the Reunification of Parents and Children	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Dead, Non-concurrence, June 12, 2019
LD 187 Recently enacted law eliminated language that established as a priority under the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act family rehabilitation and reunification. This bill restores family rehabilitation and reunification as a priority under the laws governing child protective services.

LD 692	Resolve, To Address Reimbursement Rates for Licensed Clinical Social Workers under MaineCare	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-407, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 6, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 692 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III to increase reimbursement rates for counseling services provided by licensed clinical social workers to no less than the lowest reimbursement rate for the same counseling services paid by an insurance carrier licensed in this State. The rules are routine technical rules and must be amended no later than January 1, 2020. Amendment H-407 This amendment specifies that the services provided by independent licensed clinical social workers are provided under Section 65 of rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III. Rather than increasing rates to the lowest reimbursement rate for the same service paid by an insurance carrier licensed in Maine, the amendment increases rates to 70% of the Medicare rate for the closest equivalent service, since there is no exact equivalent rate under Medicare. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 692 fiscal note LD 692 Amendment H-407 fiscal note

LD 774

An Act To Protect Maine's Beaches and Shoreline

Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Work session held, April 4, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 774
This bill amends the State's coastal management policies laws to ensure that those policies address the effects of coastal erosion on the State's beaches and shoreline and ensure the health of the State's beaches and shoreline for habitat protection for coastal wildlife species and for protection against storms.

The bill also creates an advisory group on beach management, to be convened by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection for the purpose of developing and recommending objectives, strategies, legislation and other actions to mitigate coastal erosion in the State and to keep beaches healthy for storm protection, habitat protection for coastal wildlife species and for recreational use. The group is directed to review the report titled "Integrated Beach Management Program Working Group Report," dated January 2017 and submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature, update the data and findings contained in that report, if necessary, and review and update the specific recommendations for legislative, regulatory or other actions contained in that report, if necessary. No later than February 15, 2020, the commissioner is required to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources containing the findings and recommendations of the group following its review of the 2017 report, including any proposed legislation necessary to implement those recommendations. After reviewing the report, the committee may report out legislation to implement those recommendations.

LD 775	Resolve, To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules for Eligibility for Community Support Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Engrossed in both chambers as amended by Committee amendment H-403, Enacted in both chambers June 18, 2019, Governor's action pending, Governor placed on hold, July 2, 2019
LD 775 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 17, Community Support Services to include access to services to persons who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Amendment H-403 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, strikes and replaces the bill with a resolve. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 17, Community Support Services concerning eligibility criteria for services under that section. It requires the department to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by January 15, 2020 on the rulemaking process, proposed and provisionally adopted rules and justification for the adoption of the proposed rules. It authorizes the committee to report out legislation regarding the subject matter of the rules. LD 775 Amendment H-403 fiscal note

LD 984

Resolve, To Develop Plans To Return to the State Children Housed in Residential Treatment Systems outside of the State

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-352, Finally passed, Signed into law June 6, 2019

LD 984
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with families of children who are receiving certain services out of state to develop plans to bring the children back to the State to receive the required services and care. The resolve also suspends current contracts regarding any psychiatric residential treatment facility licensed by the department and prohibits the department from issuing new contracts for such facilities. The suspension and moratorium are lifted 30 days after the department submits a report, as required by this resolve, to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the adequacy of beds and staffing levels in those facilities and the need to increase the MaineCare reimbursement rate to allow for additional facilities or staffing.

Additionally, the resolve provides funding to increase rates in rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefi\ts Manual, Chapter III, Section 65, Behavioral Health Services, Children's Home and Community Based Treatment and Section 97, Appendix D, Principles of Reimbursement for Child Care Facilities by 30% no later than October 1, 2019.

Amendment H-352
This amendment removes from the resolve the sections relating to psychiatric residential treatment facilities and increasing MaineCare reimbursement rates under rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65 and Section 97, Appendix D. The amendment requires the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate reimbursement rates with providers to provide services to children returning to the State, including deviating from reimbursement rates established by department rules in order to access additional services.

LD 984 Chaptered Law
LD 984 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1074	An Act To Establish a Tax on Water Extracted for Bottling in Order To Secure the Economic Future of Rural Maine	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 19, 2019
LD 1074 This bill creates an excise tax of 12¢ per gallon on the extraction of groundwater or surface water for commercial bottling for sale. Revenue from the tax must be used to improve the economy of the State by supporting the expansion and improvement of high-speed broadband access and by providing tuition grants for up to 2 years for postsecondary education.

LD 1110	An Act To Establish a Local Option for Sales Tax	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 16, 2019
LD 1110 This bill allows a municipality to impose a local option sales tax if approved by referendum of the voters in that municipality. The referendum question must identify the rate of the local option sales tax, the categories of taxable items the local option sales tax will apply to and the purposes for which the revenue will be used. The local option sales tax would be collected and administered by the State in the same manner as the sales and use tax. Revenue from the local option sales tax is distributed to the municipality imposing the local option sales tax. Revenue received by a municipality may not be used to reduce or eliminate funding otherwise due the municipality under other provisions of law.

LD 1358	An Act To Further the Public Interest in All Maine Waters	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019
LD 1358 This bill explicitly states the State's authority and responsibility over all waters in the State, whether above or below ground, and directs the State to protect, conserve and manage the water in the interest of present and future generations.

LD 1399	An Act To Improve Oral Health and Access to Dental Care for Maine Children	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in both chambers as amended by Committee amendment H-249 and Senate amendment S-343, June 20, 2019, Governor's action pending, Governor placed on hold, July 2, 2019
LD 1399 This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services one Oral Health Coordinator position in the oral health program within the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rural health and primary care division to lead the State's work on oral health; one Planning and Research Associate II position in the rural health and primary care division within the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention tasked with data analysis, performance management reporting and program planning and evaluation; and one Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Dental Coordinator position in the Office of MaineCare Services. The bill also provides funding to expand preventive oral health services provided in schools through the oral health program within the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rural health and primary care division to all schools in the State and a half-time Office Assistant II position to provide logistical and administrative support for that expansion. Amendment H-249 This amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 1. It replaces the appropriations and allocations section to remove the funding to expand preventive oral health services provided in schools. 2. It removes the descriptions of the responsibilities of 2 positions created in the bill to provide the Department of Health and Human Services flexibility. 3. It removes the interim report on the oral health program. 4. It requires a report on the status of the oral health program rather than on the expansion of the program since the funding to expand the program has been removed. Amendment S-343 This amendment requires the Department of Health and Human Services, when completing the report on oral health care services provided in schools, to include methods for utilization and maximization of Medicaid funding for oral health staff positions and school-based services. This amendment also changes the date for submission of the report to February 15, 2020 and removes the funding for new positions in the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. LD 1399 Amendment H-249 fiscal note LD 1399 Amendment S-343 fiscal note

LD 1592	An Act To Allow the Dissolution of Regional School Units Composed of a Single Municipality	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-474, Enacted, Signed into law June 14, 2019
LD 1592 This bill provides the steps necessary for a regional school unit composed of only one municipality to dissolve, including petitioning to dissolve the regional school unit, holding elections in the municipality, the provision of educational services for students and the disposition of outstanding indebtedness if the vote is to dissolve the regional school unit. Amendment H-474 This amendment clarifies the process for a municipality to withdraw from a regional school unit that is composed of a single municipality and provides that upon withdrawal of a municipality from a regional school unit that is composed of a single municipality, the regional school unit is dissolved. LD 1592 Chaptered Law LD 1592 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 3	An Act To Enhance and Increase the Availability of Mental Health Providers in Maine (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 28, 2019
LD 3 This bill establishes and provides funding for the Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Program to be administered by the Finance Authority of Maine. Under the program, all social workers licensed by the State Board of Social Worker Licensure and all counselors licensed by the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure may apply for student loan repayment assistance, as long as the applicants agree to practice for 5 years in one of a list of underserved practice areas in the State. The bill also repeals the currently unfunded Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program in the Maine Revised Statutes.

LD 46	Resolve, To Establish the Cumberland County Jail Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Pilot Project	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-354, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 30, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 46 This bill provides funding to create a substance use disorder clinic at the Cumberland County jail. Amendment H-354 This amendment replaces the bill. It provides funding to the Department of Corrections to establish a 24-month pilot project at the Cumberland County jail to assist in the rehabilitation of individuals incarcerated or detained at the jail who need substance use disorder treatment. The pilot project must focus on the health of the individual and provide services that include counseling, medication-assisted treatment, education and employment opportunities and community service. The contract must include outcome measures for those who are no longer in the jail. LD 46 fiscal note LD 46 Amendment H-354 fiscal note

LD 47	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Fire Stations	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, January 22, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 47 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $25,000,000, will be used for the rehabilitation or new construction of fire stations by municipalities.

LD 48	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Housing for Persons Who Are Homeless	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, January 22, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 48 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $15,000,000, will be used for capital construction costs for housing for persons who are homeless.

LD 67

An Act To Ensure Access to Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault

Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-72, Enacted, Signed into law June 27, 2019

LD 67
This bill amends the Maine Criminal Code to extend from 8 years to 20 years the statute of limitations applicable to prosecutions for a Class A, Class B or Class C crime involving unlawful sexual contact or gross sexual assault. These changes apply only to those Class A, Class B and Class C crimes of unlawful sexual contact or gross sexual assault committed on or after the effective date of this legislation or for which the prosecution has not yet been barred by the statute of limitations in force immediately prior to the effective date of this legislation.

The bill also makes a number of technical corrections to the provisions of the Maine Criminal Code governing statutes of limitations to provide additional clarity within those provisions.

Amendment S-72
This amendment incorporates a fiscal note.

LD 67 Chaptered Law
LD 67 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 101	An Act To Reestablish the Pesticide Notification Registry	Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 12, 2019
LD 101 This bill reestablishes the law, which was repealed by Public Law 2011, chapter 332, governing the development and maintenance of a registry of the properties of residents, lessees and property owners who request that their properties be placed on a registry in order that they receive advance notification of the outdoor application of pesticides near their properties.

LD 287	An Act To Impose on Mental Health Professionals a Duty To Warn and Protect	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-450, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 287 This bill imposes on certain mental health professionals a duty to warn and protect if a patient or client is likely to engage in physical violence that poses a serious risk of harm to self or others or that constitutes a serious threat of substantial damage to real property. The duty to warn and protect applies to osteopathic physicians, physicians, psychologists, alcohol and drug counselors, social workers and counseling professionals. Amendment H-450 This amendment clarifies the duty that the bill imposes on certain professionals to warn and protect if a patient or client is likely to engage in physical violence by limiting the duty to cases in which there is a belief that the patient is likely to pose a serious risk of harm to self or others. The bill includes a duty with regard to a serious threat of substantial damage to real property, which this amendment deletes. This amendment also replaces the immunity language provided in the bill to make clear that there is no monetary liability and that the specific mental health professionals are not subject to a cause of action based on the disclosure of information to a 3rd party in an effort to discharge the duty to warn or protect. LD 287 Chaptered Law LD 287 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 299	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Assist Schools, Municipalities and Counties in Using Emerging Technologies and Energy Alternatives to Fossil Fuels in Heating, Electrical and Other Utility Systems	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 299 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $15,000,000, will be used to assist schools, municipalities and counties in using emerging technologies and energy alternatives to fossil fuels in heating, electrical and other utility systems. The Finance Authority of Maine is directed to establish an application process and requirements for distribution of the funds.

LD 307	An Act To Limit the Number of Charter Schools in Maine	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-365, Enacted, Became law without the Governor's signature June 15, 2019
LD 307 Under current law, the number of public charter schools approved by the Maine Charter School Commission that may operate at any time is capped at 10 until July 1, 2022. This bill makes that cap permanent. Amendment H-365 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, caps the total number of public charter schools in the state to 10 public charter schools, regardless of whether the public charter school is authorized by the commission or by local school boards or collaboratives of local school boards. This amendment also directs the Maine Charter School Commission to develop a process for the revocation or nonrenewal of a public charter school's charter for public charter schools that are not meeting required performance framework provisions and report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, no later than January 1, 2020, on the recommended process and submit any suggested legislation to implement the process to revoke or not renew a public charter school's charter. LD 307 Chaptered Law LD 307 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 308	An Act To Authorize Municipalities To Increase Notification Time Periods for Rent Increases and Terminations of Tenancies at Will	Status: Dead, Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-357, Enacted as an emergency measure, Vetoed, Veto sustained in the House, June 17, 2019
LD 308 This bill increases from 30 to 60 days the notice that a party must provide to terminate a tenancy at will. It also increases from 45 to 75 days the notice that a landlord must provide to increase the rent of a residential tenant. Amendment H-357 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the title and the bill and authorizes a municipality to increase from 30 days up to 60 days the notice that a party must provide to terminate a tenancy at will. It also authorizes a municipality to increase from 45 days up to 75 days the notice that a landlord must provide to increase the rent of a residential tenant. LD 308 fiscal note LD 308 Amendment H-357 fiscal note

LD 344

An Act To Increase the Penalties for Illegally Passing a School Bus

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019

LD 344
This bill increases the penalties for passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. The new penalties are:

1. A $500 fine and a suspension of a driver's license for not more than 30 days for the first offense; and
2. A fine of not less than $1,000 and a suspension of a driver's license for not less than 30 days for a 2nd or subsequent offense occurring within 5 years of the first offense.

LD 392	An Act To Fund Maine's School-based Health Centers	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-156, Enacted, Signed into law June 20, 2019
LD 392 This bill provides ongoing funding for school-based health centers from the Fund for a Healthy Maine within the Department of Health and Human Services. Amendment H-156 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, incorporates a fiscal note. LD 392 Chaptered Law LD 392 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 413

An Act To Ensure the Rights of Citizens to Groundwater in the State

Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019

LD 413
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to change the laws governing groundwater to recognize that the citizens of the State collectively own the State's groundwater. The bill establishes the State as the trustee and steward of the State's groundwater on behalf of the citizens of the State and requires the State to endeavor to ensure that the groundwater will always be available to the benefit of all the citizens of the State. It also directs the State to take all reasonable measures to ensure an adequate supply of usable groundwater for the citizens of the State and to monitor the level of sustainability of the groundwater and protect against uses of groundwater that are detrimental to aquifers, bodies of surface water or wetlands or to public health and welfare.

LD 418	An Act To Implement the National Popular Vote for President	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 14, 2019
LD 418 This bill proposes to adopt an interstate compact to elect the President of the United States by national popular vote. Under the compact, the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia is elected President. Under the compact, all of a state's electoral votes would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This bill takes effect only if enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes, that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President, which is 270 of 538.

LD 420	An Act To Amend the Maine Exclusion Amount in the Estate Tax	Status: Committed to Taxation Committee, June 20, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 420 This bill returns the exclusion amount, below which the Maine estate tax does not apply, to $2,000,000 from $5,600,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2020 and removes the annual adjustment for inflation of that exclusion amount.

LD 428	An Act To Establish Wage and Employment Parity between Adult and Child Protective Services Caseworkers in the Department of Health and Human Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services, both chambers accepted Minority Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-139 and adopted House amendment H-549, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations, June 12, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 428 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide at least one week of training to new employees engaged in adult protective services. It requires the number of supervisory positions in adult protective services and child protective services to be identical. It provides funding for the recruitment and retention of employees in Adult Protective Services Caseworker positions and Adult Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions with a $5 per wage-hour stipend payment. Amendment H-139 This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, amends the bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide at least one week of training to any employee engaged in adult protective services instead of to only new employees. It clarifies that it is the ratio of supervisors to caseworkers, instead of the number of supervisors, that must be identical in adult protective services and child protective services. The amendment also provides that Adult Protective Services Caseworker positions, Adult Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions, Adult Protective Services Public Service Manager I positions and Adult Protective Services Public Service Manager II positions receive a $1 per wage-hour stipend for employees holding or obtaining a relevant master's degree. It provides that the $5 per wage-hour stipend payment and $1 per wage-hour stipend payment authorized for Adult Protective Services Caseworker positions, Adult Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions, Adult Protective Services Public Service Manager I positions and Adult Protective Services Public Service Manager II positions must be considered part of those employees' base pay for purposes of transfers, promotions, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases and collectively bargained wage increases. The amendment also replaces the appropriations and allocations section. Amendment H-549 This amendment removes language requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to provide at least one week of training to new employees and removes language regarding the ratio of supervisors to caseworkers. It provides funding to support the recruitment and retention of certain employees in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services with a stipend payment of up to $5 per wage-hour and an additional $1 per wage-hour stipend payment for employees holding a relevant master's degree. LD 428 Amendment H-139 fiscal note LD 428 Amendment H-549 fiscal note

LD 433	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Explicitly Prohibit Discrimination Based on the Sex of an Individual	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, both chambers accepted Majority Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-230 and engrossed, May 23, 2019, House tabled pending final passage, May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 433 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to prohibit the denial or abridgment by the State or any political subdivision of the State of equal rights based on the sex of an individual. Amendment H-230 This amendment is the majority report of the committee. This amendment incorporates a fiscal note. LD 433 Amendment H-230 fiscal note

LD 434	An Act To Price Carbon Pollution in Maine	Status: Referred to Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019
LD 434 This bill requires an assessment on the carbon content of fuels sold by a distributor in the State. The bill defines "distributor" and requires a distributor to submit on a monthly basis the required assessment to the Public Utilities Commission. The commission is required to transfer any assessment it receives to the Carbon Content Assessment Fund, which the bill establishes. The bill requires the commission at the end of each fiscal year to transfer funds from the fund to transmission and distribution utilities in the State. The funds are to be used to reduce the rates of those utilities' customers in a manner that is equitable and that provides maximum benefit to the economy of the State. The bill gives the commission the authority to review the books and records of a distributor and to impose an administrative penalty if necessary. It requires the commission to adopt routine technical rules.

LD 487	Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Study the Corner of Smithwheel Road and Ocean Park Road and the Intersection of Saco Avenue, Temple Street and Old Orchard Road in Old Orchard Beach	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 2, 2019
LD 487 This resolve directs the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Town of Old Orchard Beach, to study the corner of Smithwheel Road and Ocean Park Road, which connects to the I-195 spur, and the intersection of State Route 5, which is also known as Saco Avenue, with Temple Avenue and Old Orchard Road and determine whether a roundabout or an alternative layout is needed.

LD 600	An Act To Achieve Mental Health Parity in Workers' Compensation	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 14, 2019
LD 600 This bill changes the standard of proof required to demonstrate entitlement to compensation for a mental injury caused by stress so that it is the same standard as is required with respect to physical injuries. In addition, this bill specifies that a work-related injury that aggravates a preexisting mental condition may result in a compensable disability, just as aggravating a preexisting physical condition may.

LD 669	An Act To Provide Housing Relief for Maine Families and Seniors	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 669 This bill replaces the property tax fairness credit with a housing relief credit for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. Resident individuals are eligible for the housing relief credit if their income is equal to or less than the area median income identified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The credit is equal to the amount by which a resident individual's housing cost exceeds 25% of the individual's income. Housing cost includes payments made for the purpose of maintaining a homestead, including property tax payments, property insurance payments, mortgage payments, rent payments and payments for heat, electricity, water and sewer, including well and septic maintenance. The maximum credit is $3,000 for resident individuals under 70 years of age as of the last day of the taxable year or $4,000 for resident individuals 70 years of age and older as of the last day of the taxable year.

LD 683

An Act To Provide Social Workers to Persons with Mental Illness to Help Them Avoid Incarceration

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 23, 2019

LD 683
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to provide social workers to persons with mental illness who are in crisis or pose a threat to themselves or others in order for them to avoid incarceration and protect their safety and the safety of others.

LD 763	An Act To Ensure the Availability of Community Integration Services (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, both chambers accepted Committee Majority report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-252, adopted Senate amendment S-162 and engrossed, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations, June 4, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 763 This bill provides funding to increase reimbursement rates in the Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 17 for community integration services to $24.25 per quarter-hour. Amendment H-252 This amendment replaces the appropriations and allocations section. Amendment S-162 This amendment removes the emergency preamble and emergency clause, changes the date by which the reimbursement rate increase must start to October 1, 2019 and reduces the appropriation for fiscal year 2019-20 due to the delayed start. LD 763 fiscal note LD 763 Amendment H-252 fiscal note

LD 773	An Act Regarding Secondary School Education Concerning Sexual Activity and Sexual Assault	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-266, Enacted, Signed into law June 5, 2019
LD 773 This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to review the content standards and performance indicators for the content area of health, physical education and wellness, including instruction on affirmative consent, communication and decision making regarding sexual activity and the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the ability to give affirmative consent, communicate and make appropriate decisions, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year as part of the commissioner's 5-year review cycle of the content standards and performance indicators required under the system of learning results. Amendment H-266 This amendment adds a mandate preamble. LD 773 Chaptered Law LD 773 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 795	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Establish a Right to Food	Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, amended by Committee amendment H-430 and House amendment H-541 and engrossed in both chambers, June 17, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 795 This constitutional resolution declares that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to acquire, produce, process, prepare, preserve and consume and to barter, trade and purchase the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being. Amendment H-430 This amendment, which is the majority report, incorporates a fiscal note. Amendment H-541 This amendment amends the bill by: 1. Removing the word "acquire" from the enumeration of the elements of an individual's right to food and removing the language limiting the exercise of acquisition; 2. Removing language establishing a fundamental right to be free from hunger, starvation and the endangerment of life due to scarcity of or lack of access to food; and 3. Specifying that the right to food does not allow an individual to abuse private property rights or abuse public lands or natural resources in the harvesting of food. LD 795 fiscal note LD 795 Amendment H-430 fiscal note

LD 803	An Act To Create 4 Regional Mental Health Receiving Centers	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 803 This bill establishes 4 crisis intervention centers regionally throughout the State that will be operated and maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services. It requires the crisis intervention centers to provide treatment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and to provide sufficient staffing. It provides that the Department of Health and Human Services must adopt rules that include the certification of the crisis intervention centers; the location of the crisis intervention centers to ensure regional accessibility throughout the State; admission and discharge standards; requirements for notice of a person's admission; availability of and patients' access to treatment; the staffing model, with specific descriptions of staffing levels, roles and responsibilities; and patient rights protections; and that, to the extent possible, the rules must be consistent with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 511; Title 34-B, chapter 1, subchapter 8; and Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4.

LD 820

An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine

Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-210 and Senate amendment S-275, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019

LD 820
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide coverage to a MaineCare member for abortion services. The bill provides that abortion services that are not approved Medicaid services must be funded by the State. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules no later than March 1, 2020.

The bill also requires that health insurance carriers that provide coverage for maternity services also provide coverage for abortion services. The bill applies this requirement to all health insurance policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020, except for those religious employers granted an exclusion of coverage. The bill authorizes the Superintendent of Insurance to grant an exemption from the requirements if enforcement of the requirements would adversely affect the allocation of federal funds to the State.

Amendment H-210
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment adds language exempting the provisions of the bill from the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A, section 2752. The amendment reallocates the section of the bill requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to pay for abortion services for MaineCare members and adds language to authorize the department to adopt rules using the emergency rule-making provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act.

Amendment S-275
The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. This amendment also makes technical corrections.

LD 820 Chaptered Law
LD 820 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 859	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund Equipment for Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 859 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $40,000,000, will be used to provide funds to make capital improvements to and purchase equipment for career and technical education centers and regions for high school students.

LD 860	An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Work session held, May 8, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 860 This bill establishes the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program. Under the program, Maine residents who are determined to be eligible students and who are enrolled in an eligible course of study at a college within the Maine Community College System are eligible for a grant to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, less any federal financial aid or other financial assistance that the student receives that is not required to be repaid. The Maine Community College System must include in its biennial budget for presentation to the Governor and the Legislature the estimated full funding for the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program.

LD 866	An Act To Support College Completion by Homeless Youth in Maine	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Engrossed in both chambers as amended by Committee amendment H-321, Enacted in both chambers June 18, 2019, Governor's action pending, Governor placed on hold, July 2, 2019
LD 866 This bill requires institutions of higher education in the State to designate an existing staff member to serve as a liaison for homeless youth who are enrolled in that institution of higher education. The bill also requires institutions of higher education to give homeless youth priority for on-campus housing, develop a plan to provide homeless youth housing during school breaks and allow homeless youth who are enrolled part-time to access on-campus housing during the homeless youth's first year of school. The bill also expands the tuition waiver for state postsecondary educational institutions to include tuition waivers for homeless youth. Amendment H-321 This amendment, which strikes and replaces the bill, does the following. 1. It defines as a homeless student a student under 25 years of age who has been verified, at any time during the 24 months immediately preceding the student's admission to or while enrolled in a state postsecondary educational institution, as a homeless child or youth as defined in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001. 2. It requires each state postsecondary educational institution to designate a staff member as the homeless student liaison. 3. It authorizes each state postsecondary educational institution to award a homeless student a financial assistance grant, which is limited to the amount of the cost of tuition less all other financial aid received that a student is not required to repay. The availability of the grant and the amount of the grant is also subject to the amounts appropriated by the Legislature. LD 866 Amendment H-321 fiscal note

LD 876	Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services To Build Peer Respite Program Capacity in Maine by Implementing at Least One Peer Respite Program	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 5, 2019
LD 876 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services, office of substance abuse and mental health services to implement by means of a request-for-proposals process at least one peer respite program in the State to provide a voluntary, short-term residential program designed to support individuals experiencing, or at risk of, a psychiatric crisis.

LD 896	Resolve, Directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation To Study a Voluntary Licensing System for General Contractors for Home Improvement and Construction	Status: Referred to Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 23, 2019
LD 896 This resolve directs the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, in conjunction with the Department of Labor, to study the development of a voluntary licensing system for general contractors for home improvement and construction. The department is required to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business by December 4, 2019, and the committee is authorized to submit a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

LD 911	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 911 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $95,000,000, will be used to provide funds for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Land for Maine's Future Board.

LD 972	Resolve, To Increase Access to Brain Injury Waiver Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-245, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 972 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the rates for services provided to MaineCare members receiving Home Support (Residential Habilitation) Level I under the brain injury waiver, rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 18, to no less than $8.63 per quarter hour. It also allows up to 400 units of care coordination each year rather than only in the first year of receiving services under the waiver. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to explore opportunities to provide additional telehealth services, including care coordination services, provided by both licensed medical personnel and nonlicensed personnel. Amendment H-245 This amendment clarifies that the Department of Health and Human Services must seek approval from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the brain injury waiver to increase rates for Home Support (Residential Habilitation) Level I to no less than $8.63 per quarter hour. It also requires the department to include any findings from exploring telehealth opportunities for brain injury services to be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters as part of the annual telehealth report. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 972 Amendment H-245 fiscal note

LD 988	An Act To Reduce the Landfilling of Municipal Solid Waste (By request)	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Work session held, May 10, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 988 This bill removes the exemption to the municipal solid waste disposal surcharge for municipal solid waste generated by a municipality that owns the landfill accepting it or that has entered into a contract with a term longer than 9 months for disposal of municipal solid waste in that landfill facility. The bill also directs the proceeds from the surcharge to the Maine Solid Waste Diversion Grant Program.

LD 1009	An Act To Provide Protections for Maine Patients Facing Step Therapy	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-432, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1009 This bill requires health insurance carriers to establish a process for prescription drug step therapy exceptions. Amendment H-432 This amendment conforms the timeline for responding to a request for a step therapy override exception determination with the existing timeline for prior authorization requests. The amendment clarifies the meaning of exigent circumstances and makes clear that a carrier is required to continue to provide access to the prescription drug subject to step therapy protocol during the consideration of a request for a step therapy override exception determination. The amendment also adds a definition of "stable on a prescription drug" and clarifies that the provisions do not prevent a carrier from requiring an enrollee to try an interchangeable biological product. The amendment also changes the allocation of a new section of the statutory provision to avoid a numbering problem. LD 1009 Chaptered Law LD 1009 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1025	An Act To Prohibit the Provision of Conversion Therapy to Minors by Certain Licensed Professionals	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-213, Enacted, Signed into law May 29, 2019
LD 1025 This bill does the following. 1. It defines "conversion therapy" as any practice or course of treatment that seeks or purports to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, except for any practice or treatment that assists an individual undergoing a gender transition; any practice or treatment that provides acceptance, support and understanding to an individual; and any practice or treatment that facilitates an individual's coping, social support or identity exploration and development, including any therapeutic intervention that is neutral with regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, and that seeks to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the counseling does not seek to change the individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. 2. It prohibits certified school psychologists and guidance counselors, nurses, doctors, physician assistants, psychologists, psychological examiners, alcohol and drug counselors and aides, social workers, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, speech-language pathologists and assistants and audiologists from advertising, offering or administering conversion therapy to individuals under 18 years of age. Advertising, offering or administering conversion therapy to an individual under 18 years of age in violation of this prohibition is grounds for discipline of the professional by the department or board that issued the professional's license, certification or registration, including but not limited to suspension or revocation of the license, certification or registration. 3. It prohibits MaineCare reimbursement for conversion therapy administered to an individual who is under 18 years of age. 4. It includes a statement of legislative findings and intent. Amendment H-213 This amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment clarifies the definition of "conversion therapy." The bill provides that evidence that a certified school psychologist or guidance counselor has advertised, offered or administered conversion therapy to a child within the last 5 years is grounds for discipline; the amendment retains this provision but removes the 5-year limitation. The amendment also removes a similar 5-year limitation added by the bill to the current law that provides that evidence that an applicant for such a certification has injured the health or welfare of a child through abuse or exploitation is grounds for a denial of the certification. The amendment also adds an additional finding and makes other clarifying changes to the legislative findings and intent section. LD 1025 Chaptered Law LD 1025 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1106	An Act To Improve the Health and Economic Security of Older Residents	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-355, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 3, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1106 This bill removes the asset test for the Medicare savings program and the elderly low-cost drug program. It also increases the income eligibility levels for the Medicare savings program and the elderly low-cost drug program to the levels in effect prior to Public Law 2011, chapter 657. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to submit any necessary state plan amendments for approval for the increases in income eligibility. Amendment H-355 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, removes the provisions in the bill relating to income eligibility levels for the Medicare savings program and the elderly low-cost drug program. It also removes the asset test for the Medicare savings program and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit any necessary Medicaid state plan amendments to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 1106 Amendment H-355 fiscal note

LD 1107	An Act To Promote Workforce Development and Community Integration	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 1107 This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish an immigrant workforce development council and, after consultation with the council, to distribute funds through a competitive process to entities that promote integration of immigrants into the workforce and community. The bill also provides funds to support integration of immigrants into the workforce and community.

LD 1121	An Act To Acknowledge Potable Water as a Necessity	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Enacted, Signed into law May 16, 2019
LD 1121 This bill adds potable water to lists of necessities in the Maine Revised Statutes in laws governing profiteering in necessities, municipal general assistance and supplies for jails. LD 1121 Chaptered Law LD 1121 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1171	An Act To Prevent Sexual and Domestic Violence and To Support Survivors	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment S-86, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1171 This bill provides funding for sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and victim services. Amendment S-86 This amendment incorporates a fiscal note. LD 1171 Amendment S-86 fiscal note

LD 1185	An Act To Facilitate Intervention by and Provision of Services through the Department of Health and Human Services for Certain Families Affected by Substance Use	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1185 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide and pay for services relating to and treatment for substance use disorder in cases in which it does not file a child protection petition under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4032 but does open a case to provide services to the family to alleviate child abuse and neglect in the home, and also to provide and pay for those services as part of the rehabilitation and reunification plan required pursuant to Title 22, section 4041 when a child has been removed from the home. The bill provides that the department is not financially responsible if the person receiving services is insured by MaineCare or other insurance and that insurance covers the cost of those services. The bill establishes a program within the department for families affected by substance use disorder. The department is required to create a process to identify families engaged in a rehabilitation and reunification plan in which substance use disorder is a barrier to the return of a child to the child's home and ensure the family receives intervention and treatment for the disorder.

LD 1221	An Act To Allow Deductions from Prison Sentences for Rehabilitative Activities	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1221 This bill allows, in addition to existing deductions in time from a prison or jail sentence, a deduction in time of up to 7.5 days per calendar month for a person's satisfactory performance, while in custody or on probation, in the completion of an educational program leading to a high school equivalency diploma, completion of another educational or vocational training program or a work release program or work for a county or state facility industry that leads directly to the rehabilitation of that person.

LD 1231	An Act To Fund Energy Efficiency Programs through a Fee on the Sale of Unregulated Heating Fuels	Status: Referred to Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 18, 2019
LD 1231 Starting July 1, 2020, this bill imposes a fee of 1% on the wholesale sale price of heating oil, propane, coal, kerosene and dyed diesel fuel that is intended for residential or commercial heating purposes. The bill requires the revenue raised through the imposition of this fee to be used to provide additional funding for the Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund, which is administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust for the purpose of reducing heating fuel consumption and providing energy efficiency and weatherization products and services to consumers.

LD 1239	An Act To Mandate Paid Maternity and Parental Leave	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 5, 2019
LD 1239 This bill requires employers with one to 49 employees to provide 2 weeks of paid maternity leave, including existing benefits, to an employee who gives birth and one week of paid parental leave to an employee whose spouse or domestic partner gives birth. Employers with more than 49 employees are required to provide 4 weeks of paid maternity leave, including existing benefits, to an employee who gives birth and 2 weeks of paid parental leave to an employee whose spouse or domestic partner gives birth. The bill also includes provisions regarding the protection of existing benefits, position restoration, denial of rights and judicial enforcement similar to the provisions of the family medical leave laws.

LD 1250	An Act To Prohibit Sexual Harassment as a Subject Matter of Mandatory Arbitration in Employment Contracts	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Work session held, May 15, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1250 This bill prohibits an employment contract entered into after the effective date of this legislation from including a clause that requires arbitration of a sexual harassment allegation or claim and makes any such clause void. The bill does not affect the ability of an employer to include any other arbitration clause in a contract or to enforce the provisions of a contract other than the prohibited clause.

LD 1274	An Act To Enact the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-110 and Senate amendment S-338, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1274 This bill establishes the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to provide support for consumers, including prospective consumers, of health insurance and to health insurance customer assistance programs and health insurance ombudsman programs. Some of the services the new program may provide include assisting with filing complaints and appeals regarding decisions made by a group health plan, health insurance carrier or independent review organization and obtaining health insurance premium tax credits on behalf of consumers. The Superintendent of Insurance is required to contract with a nonprofit, independent health insurance consumer assistance entity that is not an insurer to operate the consumer assistance program, and funding is provided for that requirement. Amendment S-110 This amendment transfers the responsibility for contracting for the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program from the Bureau of Insurance to the Attorney General. The amendment also makes other clarifying changes to the bill. Amendment S-338 This amendment requires, in fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21, the State Controller to transfer $200,000 from available balances in the Bureau of Insurance Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of the Attorney General. The amendment also provides an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the Department of the Attorney General and makes other technical changes. LD 1274 Chaptered Law LD 1274 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1275

An Act To Support Access to Health Services for Homeless Youth in Maine

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-127, Enacted, Signed into law June 5, 2019

LD 1275
Under current law, a minor who has been living separately from parents or legal guardians for at least 60 days and is independent of parental support may provide consent to all medical, mental, dental and other health counseling and services.

This bill allows a minor to provide consent to all medical, mental, dental and other health counseling and services by proving that the minor is living separately and is independent of parental support through various means such as a written, signed statement to that fact from the director of a governmental or nonprofit agency that provides services to homeless persons or an attorney representing the minor or proof of filing for emancipation.

This bill also provides immunity to a health care practitioner who provides services to a minor if the minor consented to those services and provided proof of living separately and independently. Finally, this bill prohibits a minor or other person from disaffirming the consent given by the minor solely because the minor is a minor.

Amendment S-127
This amendment clarifies that a health care practitioner who obtains documentation is immune from civil or criminal liability. It removes the language regarding consent not being subject to later disaffirmance solely by reason of the minor's age.

LD 1275 Chaptered Law
LD 1275 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1277	An Act To Require the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention To Be Credentialed	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-101 and Senate amendment S-339, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1277 This bill establishes qualifications for the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, and requires that the director report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on challenges and threats to public health and ways in which the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has responded to those challenges and threats. Amendment S-101 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the qualifications for the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and adds an appropriations and allocations section. Amendment S-339 This amendment strikes the appropriations and allocations section. LD 1277 Chaptered Law LD 1277 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1278	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Requiring the State To Share Not Less Than 5 Percent of State Sales and Income Tax Revenue with Municipalities	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 30, 2019
LD 1278 For the purpose of reducing the burden placed on the property tax to finance municipal services, this resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to require that not less than 5% of state sales and income tax revenue be distributed to municipalities.

LD 1306	Resolve, To Examine Issues Relating to Bullying in Schools	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-105, Finally passed, Signed into law June 3, 2019
LD 1306 This bill establishes the Safe School Climate Council, which is authorized to meet twice a year and to present to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters every 2 years recommendations on model policies to address bullying, harassment and overall safety in schools. Amendment S-105 This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that directs the Commissioner of Education to form a stakeholder group to comprehensively examine issues associated with bullying in schools and in particular how Maine's laws relating to bullying should be improved. The stakeholder group is required to include educators, administrators, students and experts on bullying in schools. By February 1, 2020, the commissioner is required to report on the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group as well as the commissioner's recommendations for changes to laws relating to bullying to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The committee may report out a bill on the subject of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature. LD 1306 Chaptered Law LD 1306 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1403	An Act To Amend the General Assistance Laws Governing Reimbursement	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-514, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 11, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1403 This bill establishes presumptive eligibility for general assistance for persons who are provided shelter at emergency shelters for the homeless. It also reestablishes the 90% reimbursement rate for municipalities that incur net general assistance costs in any fiscal year in excess of .0003 of that municipality's most recent state valuation, which was amended in Public Law 2015, chapter 267, Part SSSS. It retains the 70% reimbursement rate for other municipalities and Indian tribes for costs below the .0003% of all state valuation amount. Amendment H-514 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, removes the section of the bill relating to presumptive eligibility. It also grants 100% reimbursement for general assistance costs to Indian tribes. It clarifies that the municipality's most recent state valuation rather than the all state valuation is used for calculating when a municipality begins to be reimbursed 90% for general assistance costs and that the reimbursement is for gross costs rather than net costs. It establishes that the new departmental reimbursement to municipalities begins July 1, 2020. LD 1403 fiscal note LD 1403 Amendment H-514 fiscal note

LD 1404	Resolve, To Provide Support Services and Funds To Prevent Homelessness	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-368, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 3, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1404 This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver from the requirements of federal law and regulations to allow Maine to provide Medicaid-funded direct support services to individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition, the bill provides ongoing funds to the Housing First Assistance Program established within the Maine State Housing Authority to be distributed to community action agencies to assist individuals on the verge of becoming homeless. Amendment H-368 This amendment clarifies that the Department of Health and Human Services is required to examine opportunities to provide home and community-based services to individuals experiencing homelessness using a state plan amendment option under Section 1915(i) of the federal Social Security Act or any other Medicaid-funded mechanism that may be appropriate. It requires the department to report its progress in examining options and submitting a waiver to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The amendment also corrects the appropriations and allocations section to reflect funding from the Temporary Housing Assistance Fund and changes the initiative language to be more consistent with the statute governing the fund. LD 1404 Amendment H-368 fiscal note

LD 1431	Resolve, To Support Municipal Recycling Programs (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-237, Finally passed, Signed into law May 30, 2019
LD 1431 This resolve requires the Department of Environmental Protection to develop proposed legislation to establish a new product stewardship program requiring producers of packaging to assist Maine municipalities in managing and financing packaging waste disposal and recycling programs in the State. The proposed legislation is required also to incentivize producers of packaging to design packaging to be recycled or made of recycled content to strengthen the recycling markets. The resolve requires the department to submit the proposed legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources no later than December 16, 2019. Amendment H-237 This amendment removes from the resolve the emergency preamble and emergency clause and clarifies the scope of the new packaging stewardship program to be developed by the Department of Environmental Protection under the resolve. LD 1431 Chaptered Law LD 1431 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1532	An Act To Eliminate Single-use Plastic Carry-out Bags	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-378, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 1532 This bill prohibits a retail establishment from using single-use carry-out bags to bag products at the point of sale or otherwise make single-use carry-out bags available to customers, with exemptions for certain types and uses of plastic and paper bags. Retail establishments may provide recyclable paper bags to bag products at the point of sale for at least 5¢ per bag, with exceptions to the fee requirement for certain types of retail establishments. The prohibition is effective April 22, 2020. Amendment H-378 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, requires a retail establishment to charge at least a 5¢ fee for each reusable bag made of plastic and for each recycled paper bag used to bag products at the point of sale. It also clarifies provisions in the bill regarding the implementation of the statewide preemption on single-use carry-out bag regulation and the provision regarding violations of the bag prohibition and bag fees requirements. It makes additional technical changes to clarify the application of existing state law regarding plastic bags and removes language in the bill regarding the application of bag fees to purchasers using the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program or the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the United States Child Nutrition Act of 1996. LD 1532 Chaptered Law LD 1532 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1687	An Act Regarding the Water Quality Certification of Graham Lake on the Union River (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Work session held, May 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1687 This bill provides that for the purposes of water quality certification under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act: 1. Graham Lake located in the Union River in the City of Ellsworth may be subject to drawdowns of lake levels of up to 4 feet and still be deemed to meet state water classification standards; 2. The Department of Environmental Protection may not waive water quality certification under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for the Ellsworth Hydroelectric Project and failure of the department to file timely a water quality certification is deemed to be a denial of water quality certification; and 3. The Ellsworth Hydroelectric Project is subject to an involuntary water quality decertification if the project does not provide for a volitional upstream fish passage over both the Graham Lake Dam and Ellsworth Lake Dam within 10 years of the project's relicensure.

LD 1715	An Act To Reorganize the Provision of Services for Children with Disabilities from Birth to 5 Years of Age (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Work session held, May 23, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1715 Beginning in fiscal year 2019-20 for early adopters and over a 5-year implementation phase-in beginning in fiscal year 2020-21 for other school administrative units, this bill moves responsibility for providing special education and related services for children who are at least 3 years of age and under 6 years of age from the Department of Education, Child Development Services System, the state intermediate educational unit, to the school administrative units of residence of the children. This bill eliminates the Child Development Services System and moves the entire responsibility for providing services to children from birth to under 3 years of age to the Department of Education's office of special services. The funding plan continues the present arrangement of full responsibility for costs being shared among state funds, federal funds, the MaineCare program and private insurers. The changes provide fewer transition points, create efficiencies, eliminate duplicate state functions and maximize existing services and facilities at the local level. The State continues its current practice of funding all services for preschool children with disabilities that are not paid for with federal funds, MaineCare funds or private funds.

LD 1750	An Act To Establish Appliance Energy and Water Standards	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Work session held, May 22, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1750 This bill enacts the Appliance Energy and Water Standards Act to be implemented, administered and enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection. The Act generally provides that, beginning January 1, 2021, a person is prohibited from selling or offering for sale in the State certain appliances and products unless they meet or exceed applicable energy and water standards adopted by rule by the department. Beginning January 1, 2022, a person is prohibited from installing for compensation in the State any of those appliances or products.