Representative Richard Farnsworth

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 20	An Act To Provide Coverage for Abortion Services for MaineCare Members	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 7, 2019
LD 20 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide coverage to a MaineCare member for legal 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.

LD 21	An Act To Prohibit the Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Certain Populations	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 7, 2019
LD 21 This bill prohibits the use of electroconvulsive therapy on a child under 18 years of age or a person over 65 years of age or a person who is pregnant.

LD 22	An Act To Exempt from Taxation Sales to Small Nonprofit Organizations	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 16, 2019
LD 22 This bill provides a sales tax exemption and a service provider tax exemption for incorporated nonprofit organizations with annual gross receipts of less than $40,000.

LD 29	Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force To Address the Opioid Crisis in the State by Establishing a Work Group To Develop Educational Programming for Prevention of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders among Youth and Adolescents (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 14, 2019
LD 29 This resolve is based on recommendations of the Task Force To Address the Opioid Crisis in the State, which submitted its report to the Legislature in December 2017. The resolve requires the Department of Education to establish a work group to evaluate existing substance use prevention programs targeting school-age children, investigate prevention programs that have proven effective in other areas of the United States or in other countries, identify funding resources and determine how prevention programs should be incorporated into education curricula. The work group must include representatives of educational, law enforcement and public health organizations. The department is required to submit a report of the findings of the work group no later than January 1, 2020 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters.

LD 30

An Act To Improve Health Care Data Analysis

Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Work session held, May 7, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 30
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to enact measures designed to improve the State's capacity to use data regarding health care costs and health care systems. The State's ability to better analyze and use data regarding health care utilization and health care quality will serve to inform the State's health care policy.

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 92	An Act To Amend Teacher Evaluation Requirements	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-18, Enacted, Signed into law April 11, 2019
LD 92 This bill clarifies that the use of student learning and growth data to inform instruction is included as part of the multiple measures of educator effectiveness. The bill also requires the Department of Education to submit a provisionally adopted rule to the Legislature by January 10, 2020. Amendment H-18 This amendment is the majority report of the committee and clarifies that a school administrative unit is not required to use student growth measures in educator evaluation requirements and provides that the effective date of the provisions in the legislation that remove the requirement regarding student growth and learning systems is September 1, 2021. This amendment also requires that a school administrative unit's steering committee on the elements of the school administrative unit's performance evaluation and professional growth system must include a majority of teachers chosen by the school administrative unit's local union and that any revisions to the performance evaluation and professional growth system made by the steering committee must be reached by consensus. LD 92 Chaptered Law LD 92 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 93	An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bottle Redemption To Counterbalance for Redemption Centers the Increase in Minimum Wage	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 19, 2019
LD 93 This bill increases by 1¢ per returned container the handling costs to be reimbursed to the dealer or local redemption center for the cost of handling beverage containers beginning March 1, 2020.

LD 132	An Act To Eliminate Insurance Rating Based on Age, Geographic Location or Smoking History and To Reduce Rate Variability Due to Group Size	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 28, 2019
LD 132 This bill prohibits insurance carriers providing individual health plans or small group health plans from varying premium rates based on age, geographic location or tobacco use on or after January 1, 2020. The bill also reduces the variation based on group size to 1.5 to 1 for small group plans over time.

LD 172	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Smart City Technology	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, February 19, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 172 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $15,000,000, will be used to provide funds through the Maine Technology Institute to allow municipalities to invest in smart and connected infrastructure, technology and capacity, including but not limited to information and communications technology such as broadband connectivity, connected sensors and data aggregation platforms; light-emitting diode lighting; adaptive traffic control signals; autonomous vehicle projects; electric vehicle infrastructure; and distributed power generation, storage and management.

LD 173

An Act To Promote Economic Development and Critical Communications for Family Farms, Businesses and Residences by Strategic Public Investment in High-speed Internet

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

LD 173
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to increase funding to the ConnectME Authority from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 to expand universal broadband and high-speed Internet into rural areas identified as the 6% of the State unserved by high-speed Internet. This bill proposes to make expanding high-speed Internet into unserved rural areas a key emphasis in the economic development of and to multiply the return to the State by directing the ConnectME Authority to use the increased funding to increase the rate of strategic broadband investment and leverage additional federal funding to provide middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure in the unserved areas and to correct broadband deficiencies identified in the ConnectME Authority's baseline update of 2013.

LD 197	An Act To Convene a Working Group To Authorize a Public Trust for Maine's Groundwater and To Impose a 2-year Moratorium on Large-scale Groundwater Extraction	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019
LD 197 This bill imposes a 2-year moratorium, beginning November 1, 2019, on new contracts or agreements by a consumer-owned water utility, municipality, state agency or other governmental entity involving the extraction of more than 75,000 gallons of groundwater during any week or more than 50,000 gallons of groundwater on any day. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to convene a working group to develop the statutory and regulatory framework for the establishment of the Maine Water Trust, which must be designed to ensure a safe and plentiful drinking water supply for all residents of the State by regulating the use of groundwater for commercial purposes under laws that establish the absolute control and dominion of the State over all groundwater supplies in the State. The commissioner must, on or before January 15, 2021, report the recommendations of the working group to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters, which may report out a bill to implement those recommendations to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.

LD 217	An Act To Aid Certain Veterans' Organizations	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-39 and House amendment H-61, Enacted, Signed into law April 22, 2019
LD 217 This bill allows a licensed veterans' organization, at the discretion of and by agreement with the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, to sell liquor to the general public, subject to time-of-day and seasonal limitations defined at the time of license approval, if the organization has a valid license and is located in a municipality with fewer than 5,000 residents or is located on an island off the coast of the State that is provided with ferry service pursuant to state law. Amendment H-61 The bill allows certain licensed veterans' organizations to sell liquor to the general public. This amendment permits only a licensed veterans' organization that is located on an island off the coast of the State that is provided with ferry service pursuant to state law to sell liquor to the general public at the discretion of and by agreement with the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, instead of the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services as in the bill, subject to time-of-day and seasonal limitations defined by the bureau at the time of license approval. Amendment H-61 This amendment prohibits smoking on the premises at which a licensed veterans' organization sells liquor to the general public during the time the general public is invited or allowed to be present. LD 217 Chaptered Law LD 217 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 229	An Act To Increase the Safety of Home Buyers Concerning Chimney Inspections	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-44, Enacted, Signed into law April 19, 2019
LD 229 This bill requires that, in conveyances of residential real property, if the chimneys and vents of the property have not been inspected, the seller's disclosure to the buyer must state that the seller is making no representation as to the inspection or safety of the chimneys or vents and any inspector commissioned by the buyer must provide the buyer with a report stating that the inspection does not include the condition or safety of chimneys or vents on the property. Amendment H-44 The bill amends the laws concerning disclosures about residential real property when it is transferred to include information about chimneys and vents on the property, if they have not been inspected. This amendment replaces the bill to require that the residential real property disclosure include the date of the most recent inspection of the chimneys and vents for the system or source that is used to supply heat to the property. The amendment does not impose any inspection requirements. LD 229 Chaptered Law LD 229 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 236	An Act Regarding the Use of Unanticipated State Aid for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, March 26, 2019
LD 236 This bill requires the warrant presented to the legislative body of the regional school unit to include an article describing how unanticipated school aid will be used. In cases where the adjustment prevents the regional school unit board from raising 100% of the required local share, the Commissioner of Education must waive the required proration of the state share.

LD 293	An Act Regarding Early Voting in Person	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 23, 2019
LD 293 This bill allows for municipalities to conduct early voting in person during the same period as is permitted for absentee voting. Early voting takes place in the municipal offices with the same requirements and restrictions regarding voting places, voting booths, ballot boxes and ballot challenges as apply to regular voting. At the end of early voting, the municipal clerk delivers the sealed ballot boxes to the voting place as presently required by law.

LD 296	An Act Regarding Student Privacy with Respect to Video Recordings	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 30, 2019
LD 296 This bill requires an elementary or secondary school to keep confidential a video recording in which a student is present, including a video recording taken in a bus or other means of student transportation used by the school, and prohibits the school from disseminating or publishing the video recording without the written permission of a parent of the student.

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 300	An Act To Provide School Personnel Paid Hourly a Wage Pay Option	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-220 and Senate amendment S-131, Enacted, Signed into law June 5, 2019
LD 300 This bill requires a school administrative unit to provide school personnel who are paid on an hourly basis with the option of receiving pay over a period of 12 months or shorter. The bill also provides that if a school day is cancelled or shortened due to circumstances beyond the control of school officials, a school administrative unit is required to pay school personnel who are paid on an hourly basis for the hours not worked because of the cancellation or shortened school day, up to 40 hours per school year. Amendment H-220 This amendment strikes the portion of the bill that requires a school administrative unit to pay school personnel who are paid on an hourly basis for the hours not worked when a school day is canceled or shortened due to circumstances beyond the control of school officials. The amendment also adds a mandate preamble. Amendment S-131 This amendment removes the mandate preamble. LD 300 Chaptered Law LD 300 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 302	An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Post-conviction Review in Order To Facilitate the Fair Hearing of All Evidence in Each Case Involving a Claim of Innocence	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Work session held, May 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 302 This bill amends the statutory provisions regarding criminal post-conviction review to allow the filing of a petition for post-conviction review claiming actual innocence at any time during the period of direct impediment, except that it may not be filed within one year of a judgment on a prior petition for post-conviction review on the same conviction. This bill requires that a petition for post-conviction review claiming actual innocence receive at least one evidentiary hearing in which the petitioner may submit new evidence and evidence submitted in prior proceedings on the same matter.

LD 304	An Act To Improve Stroke Care in Maine	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019
LD 304 This bill provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for evidence-based education efforts designed to inform residents of the State about the causes, signs and symptoms of stroke, focusing on populations and geographic areas most affected by stroke, and to improve stroke surveillance and epidemiology efforts of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill also provides funding for one Stroke Care Coordinator position in the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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 334	An Act To Change the Definition of "Renewable Capacity Resource"	Status: Referred to Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 13, 2019
LD 334 This bill aligns the definition of "renewable capacity resource" with that of "renewable resource" in the laws governing renewable energy by adding generators fueled by municipal solid waste in conjunction with recycling to the definition of "renewable capacity resource."

LD 345	An Act To Help New Teachers Succeed	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-153, Enacted, Signed into law May 20, 2019
LD 345 This bill requires a probationary teacher to be evaluated during each year of employment as a probationary teacher and provides that if a 3rd-year probationary teacher does not receive a summative effectiveness rating indicating ineffectiveness during the first or 2nd year of the probationary teacher's contract, the probationary teacher's contract must be extended automatically. This bill also requires special procedures for probationary teachers in a school administrative unit's performance evaluation and professional growth system. Amendment H-153 This amendment requires that, beginning with teachers hired for the 2020-2021 school year, the probationary period may not exceed 2 years. This amendment removes the sections of the bill that enacted special procedures for probationary teachers. The bill as amended includes a restructuring of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 13201 to bring the section into conformity with current drafting standards. The only substantive changes to section 13201 are to require the superintendent to evaluate probationary teachers during, without limitation, each year of their employment as probationary teachers and that, beginning with teachers hired for the 2020-2021 school year, the probationary period may not exceed 2 years. LD 345 Chaptered Law LD 345 Chaptered Law fiscal note

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 404	An Act To Fund the School Revolving Renovation Fund	Status: Dead, Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-9, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate March 28, 2019, in the Senate when the Senate adjourned sine die, June 20, 2019
LD 404 This bill provides one-time funds to be deposited in the School Revolving Renovation Fund to be used for the purposes specified in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 6006-F, subsection 3. Amendment H-9 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, incorporates a fiscal note. LD 404 fiscal note LD 404 Amendment H-9 fiscal note

LD 405	An Act To Increase the Statewide Minimum Salary for Teachers	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 12, 2019
LD 405 This bill increases the minimum salary for certified teachers, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. This bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to increase the state share of the total allocation to a qualifying school administrative unit to achieve the minimum salary for certified teachers.

LD 406	An Act To Establish Regional School Leadership Academies	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-84, Enacted, Signed into law April 30, 2019
LD 406 This bill allows school administrative units to enter into collaborative agreements to establish regional school leadership academies that combine state and local programs and resources, including the preparation, licensure, certification, professional development and training for educational leadership, into a coherent system that can significantly improve the recruitment and preparation of prospective candidates for school principalship and other school leadership positions, as well as the induction, mentoring and retention of principals and school leaders during the first 2 years of employment in their school leadership positions. The bill repeals provisions in current law regarding regional school leadership academies. Amendment H-84 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, clarifies that regional school leadership academy programs are for teachers, principals and other school leaders. LD 406 Chaptered Law LD 406 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 412	An Act To Restore System Administration Allocations in Maine School Administrative Units to the Level Prescribed for Fiscal Year 2017-18	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-310, Enacted, Signed into law June 6, 2019
LD 412 Current law requires that, beginning in fiscal year 2018-19, a portion of the system administration allocation must be allocated to school administrative units that have established regionalized administrative services. This bill instead establishes the system administration allocation at $135 per pupil, the same as it was for fiscal year 2017-18, and repeals provisions that increase for future fiscal years the per-pupil amount and restrict allocation of portions of the funds to school administrative units that have established regionalized administrative services. Amendment H-310 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, delays establishing the system administration allocation at $135 per pupil until fiscal year 2020-21. LD 412 Chaptered Law LD 412 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 421	Resolve, To Amend the State Plan Regarding the Processing of Vouchers under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children by Farmers' Markets	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 421 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its state plan to authorize farmers' markets to redeem coupons from the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

LD 423	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Preserve Historic Properties for Maine's Bicentennial	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, February 12, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 423 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $5,000,000, will be used to undertake a program as part of the commemoration of the State's bicentennial to preserve historic properties listed or eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

LD 427	An Act To Require the State To Fund Teacher Retirement	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-20, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate April 2, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 427 This bill changes the method for funding teacher retirement costs. It repeals those provisions of law enacted pursuant to Public Law 2013, chapter 368 that require school administrative units and private schools to pay a portion of the costs for teacher retirement. Amendment H-20 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 427 fiscal note LD 427 Amendment H-20 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 464	An Act To Change the Period To Request a Due Process Hearing for Costs Related to a Unilateral Private School Placement from a Public School	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 7, 2019
LD 464 This bill removes a requirement that rules adopted by the Commissioner of Education governing due process hearings include a maximum period within which due process hearings and appeals may be requested. It provides that an action against a school administrative unit to recover the costs of a unilateral special education placement in a private school may be commenced only by requesting a due process hearing within 90 days of the placement. It also provides that rules adopted by the Commissioner of Education governing the procedures for conducting due process hearings must include procedures for discovery, including rules for the production of documents.

LD 513	An Act To Limit the Number of Students and Prevent the Addition of Grade Levels at Virtual Public Charter Schools	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-239, Enacted, Became law without the Governor's signature June 9, 2019
LD 513 This bill limits total enrollment at all virtual public charter schools authorized by the commission to the total enrollment at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. It also prohibits a virtual public charter school authorized by the commission from expanding to serve a grade level not included in the school's initial charter contract or, for a school whose charter was renewed prior to November 1, 2019, the renewed charter contract. Amendment H-239 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, limits the total enrollment at all virtual public charter schools authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission to 1,000 students. LD 513 Chaptered Law LD 513 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 521	An Act To Amend the Archives and Records Management Law	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-52, Enacted, Signed into law April 22, 2019
LD 521 This bill makes the following changes to the archives and records management laws: 1. Adds language to specify that it is the policy of the State to ensure that nonpermanent records are preserved for the time required by an approved records retention schedule; 2. Removes the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy from the definition of "state agency" for purposes of the Archives and Records Management Law; 3. Adds language to include the advice from the Archives Advisory Board in the State Archivist's consideration of what constitutes an archival record, to change the definition of "state agency" or "agency" to include all government agencies that transmit records to the Maine State Archives and to change the definition of "electronic records"; 4. Adds language to specify the 2nd organizational unit within the Maine State Archives is records management and adds language to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 94 that was stricken from Title 5, section 95 regarding powers and duties of the State Archivist; 5. Changes the laws governing the State Archivist to reflect the 2 organizational units of the Maine State Archives: archives services and records management. It adds language to strengthen the records management practices for all state and local government agencies by using 4 criteria in the development of a guiding records retention schedule: administrative use, legal requirements, fiscal and audit requirements and historical and research value; 6. Specifies when local government records may be destroyed; 7. Repeals and replaces the laws governing the Archives Advisory Board to change the expertise required of members, to provide that members are appointed by the Secretary of State and to provide 3-year terms for members; and 8. Removes the requirement that the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs but retains the requirement that the board report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters, which is the committee of oversight for the Maine State Archives. It also removes a reference to funding a full-time position that was eliminated in Public Law 2015, chapter 480. Amendment H-52 This amendment maintains the exclusion of the judicial branch from the requirements of the Archives and Records Management Law, as in current law; the bill includes the judicial branch in those requirements. LD 521 Chaptered Law LD 521 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 539	Resolve, To Ensure Appropriate Personal Needs Allowances for Persons Residing in Long-term Care Facilities	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-131, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 7, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 539 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its MaineCare rules to provide for increases in the personal needs allowances of residents in nursing facilities and residential care facilities. The rules are designated as routine technical rules. Amendment H-131 This amendment increases the personal needs allowance for residents of nursing facilities to $50 rather than the $70 required in the resolve. It removes the section of the resolve that increases the personal needs allowance for residents of residential care facilities. The amendment also specifies the rule chapter of the Department of Health and Human Services that is changed, changes the title of the resolve and adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 539 Amendment H-131 fiscal note

LD 576	Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop and Implement an Online Learning Platform for Students and Educators	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-125, Finally passed, Signed into law May 14, 2019
LD 576 This resolve directs the Department of Education to develop and implement an online platform to facilitate the provision of online, virtual instruction by state-certified teachers to students in every public school in the State and the provision of a variety of high-quality professional development opportunities to educators across the State. It directs the department to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 1, 2020 on the progress toward and obstacles to the development and implementation of the online platform. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature to address any obstacles to the development and implementation of the online platform and any other concerns. Amendment H-125 This amendment removes the requirement in the resolve that the Department of Education implement an online platform and instead requires the department to study and develop an online platform. The amendment also requires the report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs required by the resolve to include the expected costs and a strategy for implementation of the online platform. LD 576 Chaptered Law LD 576 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 577	An Act To Increase Access to Nutritious Foods in Schools by Implementing an After-school Food Program for At-risk Students (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-226, Enacted, Signed into law June 20, 2019
LD 577 This bill provides for the participation in the federal child and adult care food program to serve at-risk students who attend after-school programming by school administrative units that choose to operate the program and have at least one public school in which at least 50% of students qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch during the preceding school year. Amendment H-226 This amendment, which is the majority report, strikes the emergency preamble and the emergency clause from the bill. LD 577 Chaptered Law LD 577 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 585	An Act To Allow the Adoption of Ordinances Prohibiting the Accumulation of Trash on Private Property in Plantations and Unorganized Territories	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-187, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 585 This bill grants to plantations the power to control junkyards and automobile graveyards in the same manner as municipalities may control junkyards and automobile graveyards. The bill also grants to county commissioners the power to control junkyards and automobile graveyards in unorganized territories in the same manner as municipalities may control junkyards and automobile graveyards. Amendment H-187 This amendment limits the applicability of the bill to plantations. It removes reference to junkyards and automobile graveyards. It grants plantations the authority to enact ordinances with respect to the accumulation of garbage, refuse, rubbish or trash or unwanted or discarded material of any kind on private property. LD 585 Chaptered Law LD 585 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 587	An Act To Require Career Options Education for High School Students	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 26, 2019
LD 587 This bill makes career and education development a required one-semester course to receive a high school diploma.

LD 592	Resolve, To Establish a Background Check Consolidation Commission (Emergency)	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, engrossed with Committee amendment H-35 in both chambers, Finally passed in the House, placed on the Special Study table in the Senate, April 11, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 592 This resolve establishes the Background Check Consolidation Commission to study consolidating and centralizing as many state-required background checks required for employment as possible, including background checks for teachers, state workers and persons seeking Maine Guide licenses. It prohibits the commission from studying background checks to obtain firearms. Amendment H-35 This amendment removes the emergency preamble and emergency clause. It reduces the number of Senate members from 4 to 2 and increases the number of House members from 3 to 5. It adds the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, or the commissioner's designee, to the Background Check Consolidation Commission. It moves the report deadline from December 4, 2019 to December 20, 2019. LD 592 fiscal note LD 592 Amendment H-35 fiscal note

LD 619	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding Early Voting	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, both chambers accepted Majority Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-42 and engrossed, failed Final passage as an Constitutional amendment in the House, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate, May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 619 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature to authorize a process by which municipalities may conduct early voting by allowing voters to vote in the same manner as on election day during a period immediately preceding an election and to allow absentee voting for any sufficient reason. Amendment H-42 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, incorporates a fiscal note. LD 619 Amendment H-42 fiscal note

LD 632	An Act To Promote Free, Appropriate Public Education	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 30, 2019
LD 632 This bill eliminates the provision that requires the Child Development Services System to provide free, appropriate public education to a preschool child with disabilities who reaches 5 years of age between July 1st and October 15th if the child's individualized education program team determines that it is in the best interest of the child to delay enrollment in kindergarten for one year.

LD 672	An Act To Allow Local Flexibility in Teacher Assignment To Enhance Student Achievement	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 23, 2019
LD 672 This bill allows a holder of a professional teacher certificate to teach no more than 20% of the teacher's teaching assignment outside the teacher's area of endorsement. It also requires a superintendent to notify and provide certain details to the Commissioner of Education when a teacher is assigned to teach outside the teacher's area of endorsement.

LD 684	Resolve, Relating to the Prevention and Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 684 This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations for measures related to the prevention and management of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

LD 711	Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Study and Recommend a Minimum Age for Participation in Tackle Football (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 23, 2019
LD 711 This resolve establishes the Commission To Study and Recommend a Minimum Age for Participation in Tackle Football. The commission is required to submit a report, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

LD 712	An Act To Increase the School Construction Debt Service Limit	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-290, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 29, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 712 This bill amends the school funding formula to fund after-school programs based on the state share percentage and to fund public preschool programs at 50% of the cost of the programs, or if a school administrative unit's state share percentage is greater than 50%, to fund the unit's public preschool program at the state share percentage. The bill also increases the additional weight for economically disadvantaged students from 0.15 to 1.5. The bill also raises the maximum debt service limit for school construction projects from $126,000,000 to $150,000,000 beginning in 2020. Amendment H-290 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, changes the title and strikes all sections of the bill except the provision that raises the maximum debt service limit for school construction projects from $126,000,000 to $150,000,000 beginning in 2020. LD 712 Amendment H-290 fiscal note

LD 714	An Act To Prohibit Public Charter Schools from Expending Funds for Advertising	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 30, 2019
LD 714 This bill prohibits a public charter school from paying for advertising in print media or on television, radio, yard signs or digital or electronic media.

LD 717

An Act To Provide Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment Reform

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019

LD 717
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to create a seamless crisis services system that allows high-risk patients timely access to inpatient care and to increase communication within the crisis services system to better manage patients after discharge. The purpose of this bill is to save lives and improve the overall quality and integrity of the crisis services system by:

1. Creating a single point of entry for a high-risk patient by designating an independent entity of a hospital to provide clinical assessment of the patient and determine whether the patient meets inpatient criteria of care;
2. Adopting universal criteria under which priority admission for a patient is based on acuteness of crisis and length of stay in an emergency room;
3. Requiring hospitals to communicate with and make referrals to community providers for aftercare within 24 hours following discharge from the emergency room or inpatient treatment when patients are most at risk of suicide; and
4. Exploring further significant upgrades, access and training in developing prevention and post-intervention services with the goal of avoiding hospitalization of patients with mental illness who are not in need of psychiatric hospitalization and can be stabilized in the community.

LD 724	An Act To Amend the Maine Background Check Center Act To Provide Employers Flexibility To Use Approved Alternate Vendors (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 724 This bill allows an employer seeking to conduct a comprehensive background check for a direct access worker under the Maine Background Check Center Act to apply for and obtain at any time from the Department of Health and Human Services approval to use an approved alternate vendor instead of the Background Check Center as long as all other laws and rules pertaining to the use of alternate vendors are complied with in order for the employer to obtain approval.

LD 726	An Act To Make Sales to Area Agencies on Aging Tax-exempt	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-56, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate April 18, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 726 This bill provides an exemption from the sales and use tax to area agencies on aging, as designated by the Department of Health and Human Services, and public and private nonprofit agencies that are operating under grants provided by the department, that provide social services in order to secure and maintain maximum independence and dignity in a home environment for older people capable of self-care with appropriate supportive services. Amendment H-56 This amendment adds an exemption from the service provider tax for sales of taxable services to agencies that the bill makes eligible for a sales tax exemption. LD 726 Amendment H-56 fiscal note

LD 729	An Act Regarding the Probationary Period for Teachers	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 729 This bill provides that if a teacher completed a 3-year probationary period in a school administrative unit and later teaches in another school administrative unit, that teacher will only have a one-year probationary period in the new school administrative unit.

LD 730	An Act To Create the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 730 This bill establishes the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet. The cabinet consists of the Commissioner of Corrections, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Labor and the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and, at the discretion of the Governor, one member of the public. The initial chair of the cabinet is the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee. The cabinet is established to promote interdepartmental collaboration on substance use disorders policy development and program implementation and support service delivery in an integrated manner. The duties of the cabinet include coordinating funding, conducting long-term planning and policy development, coordinating service delivery, assessing resource capacity, reviewing programs and policies and communicating the work of the cabinet. The cabinet is authorized to solicit, receive and pool funds from the Federal Government, subdivisions of the State and individuals, foundations or corporations. The cabinet is required to submit an annual report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs, criminal justice and public safety matters, education and cultural affairs, health and human services matters, judiciary matters, labor matters and state and local government matters and to make the report available to the public. The cabinet is required to carry out its duties within existing resources.

LD 745	An Act To Support the Northern New England Poison Center	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-67, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate April 23, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 745 This bill appropriates funds to the Northern New England Poison Center to ensure continued access to 24-hour expert medical treatment advice and information on potentially harmful substances. Amendment H-67 This amendment incorporates a fiscal note. LD 745 fiscal note LD 745 Amendment H-67 fiscal note

LD 760	An Act To Prohibit the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy from Considering the Criminal Records of Applicants	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 760 This bill prohibits the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy from inquiring about or considering the criminal record of an applicant for admission to any postsecondary educational program.

LD 765	Resolve, To Revise Asset Limits for Social Service Programs	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-247, Finally passed, Signed into law May 30, 2019
LD 765 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review asset limits for social service programs and revise the limits to increase the effectiveness of the programs. Amendment H-247 The amendment replaces the resolve. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a stakeholder group to examine the asset limits for eligibility applied to the elderly low-cost drug program, the Medicare savings program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the statewide food supplement program, otherwise known as SNAP. The department and stakeholder group are required to examine the asset limits to determine if they meet the missions of the programs or present barriers and to determine compliance with federal laws and guidelines. The department is required to submit a report, together with its findings, legislative recommendations and any rulemaking activities to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 2019. LD 765 Chaptered Law LD 765 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 846	Resolve, To Provide for the Sealing of Records of Convictions for Marijuana-related Violations That Are No Longer Crimes	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 3, 2019
LD 846 This resolve requires the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State Bureau of Identification to ensure that all criminal conviction records in the possession of the department that relate to the conviction for an offense involving marijuana that is no longer illegal are made confidential and prohibits the dissemination of such records. The department is required to submit a report to the 130th Legislature regarding the progress of the department in meeting the requirements of this legislation.

LD 852

Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study the Coordination of Services and Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults with Disabilities

Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-126, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 7, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 852
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to establish a task force to study the benefits, assessments and expansion of continuing education programs for young adults with disabilities after high school. The members of the task force would include a variety of experts, providers and parents, and the task force would be charged with developing recommendations to enhance the coordination of programs and recommend targeted reforms to ensure the most efficient and effective provision of services. This bill would also implement targeted reforms that have been recommended by existing or previous task forces.

Amendment H-126
This amendment establishes the Task Force To Study the Coordination of Services and Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults with Disabilities. The membership of the task force consists of Legislators who serve on the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs, health and human services matters and labor and housing matters, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Labor and members of organizations or associations knowledgeable about services for young adults with disabilities after high school. The Commissioner of Education convenes the task force, which must hold a minimum of 4 meetings and submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs, health and human services matters and labor and housing matters on recommendations and targeted reforms to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided by different agencies and continuing educational opportunities for young adults with disabilities after high school.

LD 852 Amendment H-126 fiscal note

LD 857	An Act To Increase Accountability for Wage Violations	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-78, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate April 23, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 857 This bill amends the law regarding employment practices by increasing the fine for a violation of certain state wage and benefits laws to $500 for the first violation and $2,500 for each subsequent violation and by providing a private right of action for a person aggrieved of such a violation. It amends the law regarding employees' remedies to provide that in a judgment for an employee an additional amount of 3 times the unpaid wages must be awarded the employee. It also provides ongoing funds for 10 labor and safety inspector positions within the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, wage and hour division beginning October 1, 2019. Amendment H-78 This amendment changes the fine structure proposed in the bill from a $2,500 fine for each subsequent violation of the various wage and hour laws to a fine of at least $500 but not more than $2,500 for each subsequent violation. It also strikes new language added by the bill regarding a civil action remedy for violations of various wage and hour laws. It reduces the liquidated damages available in a civil action to collect unpaid minimum wages from 3 times the amount of unpaid wages, as proposed by the bill, to twice the amount of unpaid wages, and it reduces the Labor and Safety Inspector positions added to the bill from 10 to 4. LD 857 Amendment H-78 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 861	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Complete the Renovation of a Wharf and Bulkhead in Portland for Marine Research	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 861 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $3,000,000, will be used to complete the renovation of a wharf and bulkhead at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland to bring the wharf back into operation for a fishing vessel berthing resource to support marine research at sea and for continued long-term marine job development.

LD 900	An Act To Expand the Rights of Public Employees under the Maine Labor Laws	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Work session held, April 24, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 900 This bill allows public employees, including municipal and county employees, state and legislative employees, university, academy and community college employees and judicial employees, but not including employees whose duties include protecting public safety, to strike pursuant to the official procedures of the employees' employee organization or under a process in which an affirmative vote to strike is held. The bill requires that notice be given to the public employer stating the dates upon which the strike will begin and end. The bill also provides that the employee organization or public employer may call for emergency bargaining within 3 days prior to the intended start of the strike.

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 917	An Act Increasing Municipal Agent Fees for Motor Vehicle, All-terrain Vehicle, Snowmobile and Watercraft Registrations	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, both chambers engrossed with Committee amendment S-70 and House amendment H-279 and enacted, May 28, 2019, Became law without the Governor's signature, June 9, 2019
LD 917 This bill allows municipal agents to charge higher service fees for registrations for motor vehicles, from $3 to $5 for renewals and from $4 to $6 for new registrations. It also allows municipal agents to charge higher service fees for registrations for all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and watercraft, from $1 to $3 for renewals and from $2 to $5 for new registrations. LD 917 Chaptered Law LD 917 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 997	An Act To Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Development for Young Children	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-191 and Senate amendment S-334, Enacted, Signed into law June 27, 2019
LD 997 This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to implement, beginning September 1, 2020, a statewide voluntary early childhood consultation program to provide support, guidance and training to families, early care and education teachers and providers working in public elementary schools, child care facilities, family child care settings and Head Start programs serving infants and young children who are experiencing challenging behaviors that put them at risk of learning difficulties and removal from early learning settings. The bill requires the Department of Education to design and implement the program and to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on the implementation of the statewide voluntary early childhood consultation program. Amendment S-191 This amendment, which is the majority report, provides that any record about a child created as a result of an early childhood consultation program must be made available to the parents or guardians of that child and may not become part of the child's education record. The amendment also stipulates that 50% of the costs of the early childhood consultation program established under the bill is to be funded using funds transferred to the Department of Education by the Department of Health and Human Services that are provided to the Department of Health and Human Services under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant that are available under Title IV-A of the United States Social Security Act or that are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services from that block grant authorized under Title XX of the United States Social Security Act. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. Amendment S-334 This amendment changes the responsibility for the statewide voluntary early childhood consultation program from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services and makes other minor changes to reflect the change in responsibility. LD 997 Chaptered Law LD 997 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 1043	An Act To Establish Universal Public Preschool Programs	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-256, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1043 This bill specifies that it is the goal of the State to ensure that public preschool programs for children 4 years of age are offered by all school administrative units by the 2020-2021 school year. In order to achieve that goal, this bill requires the Department of Education to develop recommendations and report back to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 1, 2020. Recommendations must include: 1. Standards for public preschool programs; 2. A process for approval and certification of programs not operated by a school administrative unit, including, but not limited to, a Head Start program or other program affiliated with the school administrative unit; and 3. Funding for public preschool programs. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature to implement the recommendations in the report. Amendment H-256 This amendment provides that it is the goal of the State to provide adequate start-up funding to ensure that public preschool programs for children 4 years of age are offered by all school administrative units by the 2023-2024 school year and requires the Department of Education to include in its funding recommendations funding options to encourage more public preschool programs. LD 1043 Amendment H-256 fiscal note

LD 1052	An Act To Require Regular and Transparent Review of MaineCare Reimbursement Rates	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Work session held, May 1, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1052 This bill establishes a regular review process for MaineCare reimbursement rates. The Department of Health and Human Services shall review all rates over a 3-year period except those that are already subject to regular review, based on cost, reimbursed at a capitated rate, or tied to Medicare or some other rates. The 3-year schedule and the reviews are required to be submitted to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and appropriations and financial affairs. The results of reviews are also submitted to the Governor for consideration for inclusion in the biennial budget. The bill also establishes the MaineCare Reimbursement Rates Review Advisory Committee made up of stakeholders appointed by the Presiding Officers and the minority leaders in the Legislature to provide advice and input to the department on rate reviews. The advisory committee also submits an annual review of its activities to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and appropriations and financial affairs. The advisory committee is staffed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

LD 1070	An Act To Reduce the Number of Domestic Assaults and Suicides By Increasing the Tax on Alcohol	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019
LD 1070 This bill, for the purpose of reducing the incidence of domestic violence and suicides, increases the excise taxes imposed on spirits, malt liquor, fortified wines and hard cider and the sales tax imposed on the sale of liquor sold in establishments for consumption on or off premises.

LD 1075	An Act To Allow a Wrecker To Transport the Number of Vehicles Authorized by Manufacturer Specifications for the Wrecker	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 23, 2019
LD 1075 Current law provides that "wrecker" does not include a vehicle designed to carry or tow more than 2 vehicles on its own body. This bill strikes that language and provides that a wrecker may not carry or tow more vehicles than allowed by the manufacturer specifications for that wrecker.

LD 1078	An Act Regarding the Number of Agency Liquor Store Licenses Permitted in a Municipality	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-96, Enacted, Signed into law April 30, 2019
LD 1078 This bill allows the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to license up to 11 agency liquor stores in a municipality with a population over 60,000. Under current law, the maximum number of agency liquor stores that may be licensed in a municipality with a population over 45,000 is 10. Amendment H-96 This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment restructures for clarity current law limiting the number of agency liquor stores. Substantively, the amendment allows the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to: 1. License up to 11 agency liquor stores in a municipality with a population over 60,000. Under current law, the maximum number of agency liquor stores that may be licensed in a municipality with a population over 45,000 is 10; and 2. License up to 7 agency liquor stores in a municipality with a population over 15,000 but less than 20,001 and 6 agency liquor stores in a municipality with a population over 10,000 but less than 15,001. Currently, 5 agency liquor stores are allowed in a municipality with a population over 10,000 but less than 20,001. LD 1078 Chaptered Law LD 1078 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1099	An Act To Reduce Suicides and Violent Crimes by Requiring a 72-hour Waiting Period after the Sale of a Firearm	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 13, 2019
LD 1099 This bill requires a 72-hour waiting period between an agreement for the purchase and sale of a firearm and its delivery to the purchaser and makes violation of the waiting period a civil violation with a $200 to $500 fine for the first violation and a $500 to $1,000 fine for a subsequent violation.

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 1135

Resolve, To Increase Funding for Assertive Community Treatment (Emergency)

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, both chambers engrossed with Committee amendment H-253, failed final passage as an emergency measure in the House, May 23, 2019, Senate receded, adopted amendment S-170 to H-253 and engrossed, May 30, 2019, House adopted amendment S-170 and enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations, June 4, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 1135
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the MaineCare reimbursement rates for assertive community treatment by 25%, contract with a 3rd party to conduct a rate study of reimbursement rates for assertive community treatment and report with findings by January 30, 2020. The department is authorized to set new rates based on the rate study as long as the rates are no lower than those in effect on April 1, 2019.

The resolve also includes an appropriations and allocations section.

Amendment H-253
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the resolve to provide that the 25% rate increase for assertive community treatment is ongoing. It removes the directive to the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a 3rd party to conduct a rate study. It also replaces the appropriations and allocations section to reflect a change in funding.

Amendment S-170
This amendment removes the emergency preamble and emergency clause and removes the fiscal year 2018-19 appropriation and reduces the fiscal year 2019-20 appropriation due to the delayed implementation.

LD 1135 fiscal note
LD 1135 Amendment H-253 fiscal note
LD 1135 Amendment S-170 fiscal note

LD 1137	An Act To Clarify the Background Check Process for Certain Child Care Workers	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1137 This bill removes the requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services, Background Check Center be used to screen prospective employees of child care facilities and family child care providers. Instead, this bill allows the criminal background check used for new and continuing school employees to fulfill the state and federal requirements for a mandatory criminal background check for a person who provides child care in a child care facility, a family child care provider and a person who provides day care in that person's home for one or 2 children whose care is paid for by state or federal funds.

LD 1149	An Act To Strengthen the Maine State Library	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-173 and Senate amendment S-365, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1149 This bill provides funds to support resource sharing services for Maine's libraries, including van delivery and interlibrary lending, the Digital Maine Library and the Maine statewide catalog known as MaineCat, and to conduct an analysis of statewide library services and resource sharing. Amendment H-173 This amendment, which is the majority report, incorporates a fiscal note. Amendment S-365 Like the bill, this amendment is designed to strengthen libraries. This amendment deappropriates funding for a position provided by the General Fund, and instead allocates funds for another position funded 75% General Fund and 25% Federal Expenditures Fund. LD 1149 Chaptered Law LD 1149 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1153	An Act To Provide Flexibility in the Treatment of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 2, 2019
LD 1153 This bill requires a review team determining whether to approve a behavior modification or behavior management program for a person with an intellectual disability or autism to consider the successful use of the program for the person in another state. It requires that one member of the review team must be qualified by training and experience in the use of behavior change procedures and the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior. It specifies criteria that a behavior modification or behavior management program submitted for review must meet. It provides for a process for appealing a review team's determination. It allows for temporary restrictions on the possession or use of personal property through the use of reinforcement procedures under a behavior modification or behavior management program.

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 1247	Resolve, To Clarify the Good Cause and Sanction Process in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment Programs	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-408, Finally passed, Signed into law June 6, 2019
LD 1247 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules to include a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program participant's attendance at the medical and mental health appointments of the participant's children as a life management skill and job readiness activity. Amendment H-408 This amendment replaces the resolve and changes the title. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules to establish a process for a participant in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who fails to comply with a program requirement with an opportunity to claim good cause and receive a determination from the department in response to that claim. LD 1247 Chaptered Law LD 1247 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1254	An Act To Authorize a Local Option Sales Tax on Meals and Lodging and Provide Funding To Treat Opioid Use Disorder	Status: Committed to Taxation Committee, June 18, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1254 This bill allows a municipality to impose a local option sales tax, which may be seasonal, on prepared food, not including marijuana or marijuana products, and short-term lodging of no more than 1% if approved by referendum of the voters in that municipality. Revenue from the local option sales tax is distributed 85% to the municipality and 15% to all other municipalities. The 15% distributed to a municipality must be used by that municipality for the purposes of preventing and treating opioid use disorder in that municipality. Revenue received by a municipality may not be used to reduce or eliminate funding otherwise due the municipality under other provisions of law.

LD 1338	An Act To Protect Teachers from Unfair Evaluations	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-400, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1338 This bill removes the requirement in current law that the criteria to establish the order of layoff and recall of teachers must include the teacher's effectiveness rating as a factor. It also amends the provisions in current law governing the use of teacher effectiveness ratings. Amendment H-400 This amendment strikes and replaces the bill and provides that, in any negotiated agreement, the criteria negotiated by the school board and the bargaining agent to establish the order of layoff and recall may include the teacher's effectiveness rating as a factor. This amendment also provides that, subject to appeal or grievance under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, receipt of summative effectiveness ratings indicating that a teacher is ineffective for 2 consecutive years constitutes just cause for nonrenewal of a teacher's contract as long as there is a reasonable basis in fact for the effectiveness ratings, the evaluation process leading to the effectiveness ratings has been performed in a manner reasonably consistent with the approved system and department rules and the effectiveness ratings are not the result of bad faith. This amendment also provides that there is no right to an appeal or grievance of a summative effectiveness rating unless the summative effectiveness rating is used by the employer as a basis for a disciplinary action and provides that a teacher has the opportunity to provide a written response to any summative effectiveness rating issued to the teacher. LD 1338 Chaptered Law LD 1338 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1352	An Act To Provide for Consistency Regarding Persons Authorized To Conduct Examinations for Involuntary Hospitalization and Guardianship	Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1352 This bill changes the Maine Uniform Probate Code, taking effect July 1, 2019, in the provision governing professional evaluation in an adult guardianship matter to replace the term "licensed physician or psychologist" with the term "medical practitioner," the definition of which is added to the provision by the bill and is the same as under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 3801, which provides definitions for provisions governing hospitalization by psychiatric hospitals. LD 1352 Chaptered Law LD 1352 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1360	Resolve, To Expand Eligibility for Presumptive Eligibility Determinations by Hospitals	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 30, 2019
LD 1360 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend the department's rule Chapter 332: MaineCare Eligibility Manual, Part 18: Presumptive Eligibility Determined by Hospitals regarding expanding hospital presumptive eligibility, hospital presumptive eligibility cards, assisting individuals with MaineCare application forms and performance standards for qualified hospitals to require that 85% of presumptive eligibility determinations made will be found eligible for full MaineCare coverage.

LD 1365	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Provide for the Election of the Governor by Majority Vote	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 30, 2019
LD 1365 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that the Governor be elected by majority vote.

LD 1368

An Act To Require Postsecondary Institutions To Meet the Expected Family Contribution without Additional Loan Burdens for Students

Status: Referred to Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 12, 2019

LD 1368
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to require postsecondary institutions to meet the expected family contribution without additional loan burdens on students. The expected family contribution is an index number that postsecondary institutions use to determine how much financial aid a student would receive annually if the student were to attend that postsecondary institution. Included in financial aid packages are federal Stafford loans, which are fixed-rate student loans originated by the Federal Government. This bill is designed to limit exposure of a student's loan burden to federal Stafford loans only.

LD 1382	Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Study and Develop a State Plan for Computer Science Instruction and Professional Development	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-522, Finally passed, Signed into law June 18, 2019
LD 1382 This bill provides the necessary resources and support for kindergarten to grade 12 schools to adopt computer science into their courses and curriculums. The bill establishes a grant program for computer science professional development, including costs of transportation, mentoring and coaching. The bill also requires the Department of Education to develop a statewide plan as well as computer science standards for kindergarten to grade 12 schools. The bill creates a full-time Regional Education Representative position in the Department of Education to support the creation and implementation of the plan and the standards. The bill establishes a grant program for computer devices and instructional materials to provide the tools necessary for schools to implement computer science courses and content. The bill also establishes a computer science teacher certification program for students who are majoring in education in the University of Maine System. Finally, the bill authorizes the Department of Education to adopt rules as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. Amendment H-522 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment directs the Department of Education to study and develop a plan for implementing computer science instruction in schools and submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs that includes an overview of how computer science courses and curricula are being implemented in schools in the State; a state plan for instruction in computer science in public preschool to grade 12, including the development of standards and clarification on how instruction in computer science may be applied toward graduation requirements, that provides equitable access to computer science instruction across the State and provides for instruction in computer science in all high schools by 2022 and in all grades by 2025; a professional development plan for educators that includes training in computer science and a component that includes peer-to-peer training in computer science; and an estimate of the funding levels necessary to implement the plans set out in the report. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature. LD 1382 Chaptered Law LD 1382 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1396	An Act To Update the Laws Governing the Regional Library Systems	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-182, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 1396 This bill makes administrative updates to the laws governing regional library systems. It promotes cooperation between library systems by replacing library districts with library regions, consolidating the district councils by establishing the Maine Library Advisory Council to serve as an advisory body to the library regions and directing staff of the Maine State Library holding the position of consultant or specialist to provide services to library regions as appointed by the State Librarian. The bill also revises the membership and terms of the Maine Library Commission. Amendment H-182 This amendment revises the membership of the Maine Library Commission. LD 1396 Chaptered Law LD 1396 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 1441	An Act To Align the Laws Governing Dental Therapy with Standards Established by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-503, Enacted, Signed into law June 19, 2019
LD 1441 This bill makes the following changes to the laws affecting dental therapists. 1. It changes the name of the occupation licensed from "dental hygiene therapist" to "dental therapist" to conform to the name used by other state licensing boards and the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. 2. It identifies the educational requirement as a master's degree in dental therapy. It also clarifies that a dental therapy program must either be accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Education or approved by the Board of Dental Practice by rulemaking consistent with the curriculum standards of a dental therapy program as adopted by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Education. 3. It requires a provisional dental therapist and a dental therapist to maintain a current certification in advanced cardiac life support. 4. It clarifies the level of supervision of a provisional dental therapist to require both direct and general supervision as identified in a written practice agreement with a supervising dentist. It authorizes a dental therapist to practice under the general supervision instead of direct supervision of a dentist pursuant to a written practice agreement. 5. It removes the practice setting requirements. Amendment H-503 This amendment clarifies the educational requirements for dental therapists. The amendment removes language proposing to clarify statutory language related to supervision of dental therapists and replaces it with a provision requiring further study of the issues by the Board of Dental Practice. The Board of Dental Practice is directed to recommend changes to the statutory definitions of supervision and to recommend a definition of "teledentistry" for the purpose of aligning current supervision practices and reflecting advancements in technology. The Board of Dental Practice is required to submit its recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services no later than February 1, 2020. The Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature based on the board's recommendations. LD 1441 Chaptered Law LD 1441 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1539

An Act To Provide Maine Children Access to Affordable Health Care

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-578, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 17, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 1539
This bill makes the following changes to the Cub Care program.

1. It changes the maximum eligibility level for family income from 200% of the federal poverty level to 325% of the federal poverty level.
2. It removes the 3-month waiting period for enrollment in the Cub Care program following the loss of health insurance or coverage under an employer-based plan.
3. It establishes that eligibility is not subject to an asset test.
4. It provides coverage to persons 19 and 20 years of age and to noncitizens under 21 years of age. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to use state funds to fund the program but may apply for waivers or state plan amendments to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to receive federal matching funds.
5. It repeals the provisions regarding premium payments for the Cub Care program.
6. It requires the department to contract for outreach activities rather than providing them directly. The department must have a contract or contracts in place no later than January 1, 2020. The department is also required to seek federal grant funds for additional outreach activities under the federal Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act, Public Law 115-120 and the federal Advancing Chronic Care, Extenders and Social Services (ACCESS) Act, Public Law 115-123.
7. It requires the department to submit a state plan amendment to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the use of the express lane eligibility option no later than January 1, 2020 and to implement it no later than 6 months after receiving approval.

Amendment H-578
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, makes the following changes to the bill.

1. It changes the maximum eligibility level for family income from 325% of the federal poverty level to 300% of the federal poverty level.
2. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to submit any waivers or state plan amendments to accomplish the eligibility criteria established in this legislation, including but not limited to removing the 3-month waiting period for enrollment in the Cub Care program following the loss of health insurance or coverage under an employer-based plan.
3. It removes the provision that eligibility is not subject to an asset test because current rules do not make eligibility subject to an asset test.
4. It removes the requirement to provide coverage to persons 19 and 20 years of age and to noncitizens under 21 years of age.
5. It removes the requirement that the department contract for outreach activities and removes the reference to specific federal grant funds the department must seek for additional outreach activities.
6. It removes the requirement for the department to submit a state plan amendment to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the use of the express lane eligibility option.
7. It makes the repeal of the waiting period and premium payment requirements under the Cub Care program contingent on the approval of a waiver of those requirements by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
8. It also adds an appropriations and allocations section.

LD 1539 Amendment H-578 fiscal note

LD 1607	An Act To Create the Department of Early Care and Learning	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Work session held, May 20, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1607 SEE saved text file, load separately

LD 1635	Resolve, To Improve Access to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Children from Birth to 8 Years of Age (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-182, Finally passed as an emergency measure, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1635 This emergency resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, to convene the participants of the federally funded Developmental Systems Integration initiative to determine the capacity of the State to provide child find and early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment services to children from birth to 8 years of age, the gaps in services and the costs of addressing those gaps. The report must be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 30, 2019. Amendment S-182 This amendment requires the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a stakeholder group rather than convene the participants of the federally funded Developmental Systems Integration initiative. It also adds additional requirements to the report submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. LD 1635 Chaptered Law LD 1635 Chaptered Law fiscal note

Organization	Score
Maine People's Alliance, Will of the Voters	91%
Maine People's Alliance, 2018	92%
Maine Conservation Voters, 2018	8 of 8
Maine Conservation Voters, 2017	7 of 7
AFL-CIO, 2017	100%
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017	100%

LD 180	An Act To Allow for the Regulation of Transportation Network Companies at Airports by Municipalities (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-124, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law May 8, 2019
LD 180 This bill allows a municipality to adopt an ordinance governing the operations of a transportation network company at an airport located within that municipality. Amendment H-124 This amendment, instead of giving municipalities broad authority to adopt an ordinance governing the operations of a transportation network company at an airport, specifies that a municipality or other political subdivision operating a public airport that receives scheduled passenger aircraft service and that had more than 20,000 passenger boardings in the previous year may in a manner consistent with the airport's regulation of other prearranged for-hire transportation services charge a reasonable fee for each trip to pick up a rider at the airport made by a driver for a transportation network company and regulate the parking and traffic flow of transportation network company drivers at the airport. LD 180 Chaptered Law LD 180 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 181	An Act To Provide Funding to the Department of Health and Human Services To Support Free Health Clinics in the State	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-11, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate April 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 181 This bill provides funding to support free health clinics in the State. Amendment H-11 This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, clarifies that the health clinics being funded provide all services to the public at no charge. It also clarifies that the additional funding in the bill is only in the 2020-21 biennium and the funding is distributed through a request for proposals. LD 181 fiscal note LD 181 Amendment H-11 fiscal note

LD 237	An Act To Appropriate Funds for Coaching Services for Existing and New Prekindergarten Programs	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 237 This bill provides ongoing funds for coaching services to provide teaching support for new and existing prekindergarten programs throughout the State.

LD 238	An Act To Increase the Minimum Area of Usable Space per Child Required in the Outdoor Area of a Child Care Center	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 21, 2019
LD 238 This bill requires a child care facility to provide an outdoor play area that provides a minimum net area of 45 square feet of usable space per child.

LD 239	Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Explore the Development of a Behavioral Health Unit at the Cumberland County Jail	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Finally passed, Signed into law June 3, 2019
LD 239 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office to jointly explore the development of a behavioral health unit at the Cumberland County Jail to determine the competency of inmates to stand trial. This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office to submit the results of this directive along with recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, which may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature. LD 239 Chaptered Law LD 239 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 468	An Act To Require That the State Fund on an Ongoing Basis a Minimum of 50 Percent of the Costs Associated with Public Preschool Programs	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 468 This bill requires the State to fund a minimum of 50% of the costs of eligible public preschool programs for each year the school administrative unit operates the eligible public preschool program, other than the year in which the school administrative unit receives start-up funds.

LD 469	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Provide Funding for Upgrades of Learning Spaces and Other Projects Funded by the School Revolving Renovation Fund	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, February 12, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 469 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2020-21, will be used to provide funds to the School Revolving Renovation Fund for the purpose of providing funds to public schools to upgrade learning spaces in school buildings and make other necessary repairs.

LD 512	Resolve, To Create the Task Force To Study and Plan for the Implementation of Maine's Early Childhood Special Education Services (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-561, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 12, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 512 This resolve establishes the Task Force To Study and Plan for the Implementation of Maine's Early Childhood Special Education Services to examine the national trends and relevant models of governing and delivering early childhood special education systems and the short-term and long-term costs and benefits to the Department of Education's proposed plan to restructure the Child Development Services System and to make recommendations for an early childhood special education services program plan. Amendment H-561 This amendment authorizes the Legislature, through the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, to contract with a qualified research and technical assistance entity to conduct an independent review of Maine's early childhood special education services. This amendment authorizes the Office of the Executive Director of the Legislative Council, at the direction of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, to develop and administer a request for proposals process to award a contract for the independent review. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 512 fiscal note LD 512 Amendment H-561 fiscal note

LD 613	Resolve, Concerning the Adoption of Rules To Carry Out the Purpose of the Bridging Rental Assistance Program	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Finally passed, Became law without the Governor's signature June 9, 2019
LD 613 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules for the Bridging Rental Assistance Program in order to ensure fairness, equity and access to the program for those persons with mental illness who qualify for the program. The department is required to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services if the department anticipates a delay in the adoption of the rules. LD 613 Chaptered Law LD 613 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1201	An Act To Create a Low-barrier, Permanent Housing Rental Subsidy for Individuals in the State Experiencing Long-term Homelessness	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1201 This bill establishes a rental subsidy program within the Maine State Housing Authority for persons experiencing long-term homelessness. The rental subsidy program provides a rental subsidy and housing retention services to a person eligible for the program.

LD 1202	Resolve, To Develop a Plan To Improve Service Delivery to Individuals Receiving Medicaid Home and Community-based Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1202 This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a stakeholder group to review the Medicaid home and community-based settings rules, review past efforts by the State to come into compliance with those rules and make recommendations about how to bring the State into compliance and recommendations on necessary statutory and regulatory changes. The department is required to submit a report by January 15, 2020 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, which may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

LD 1288	An Act To Establish a MaineCare Reimbursement Rate Review Process and the MaineCare Independent Rate Commission	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1288 This bill establishes a process by which the Department of Health and Human Services maintains a schedule of MaineCare program reimbursement rate reviews in which each rate is reviewed at least every 5 years. Under this process, the department reviews a rate for access, service, quality and use of service and compares the rate reimbursed with available benchmarks, including Medicare rates and usual and customary rates paid by private parties, and uses qualitative tools to assess whether reimbursements are sufficient to allow for provider retention and recipient access and to support appropriate reimbursement of high-value services. The department is required to provide a report of its review to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs, the MaineCare Independent Rate Commission, a 24-member group of interested parties providing oversight of the rate review process, and stakeholders. After holding public meetings and consulting stakeholders and stakeholder groups and consultation with the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of the Budget, the department makes recommendations on the MaineCare reimbursement rates to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs to assist in developing the department's budget.

LD 1486	An Act To Strengthen Supports for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism in Crisis	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-411, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1486 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide a system of crisis and respite services specific to persons with intellectual disabilities or autism and their families. It requires the department to adopt rules by January 1, 2020. The rules are major substantive rules. Amendment H-411 This amendment replaces the bill. It amends the current law regarding crisis and respite services for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to provisionally adopt major substantive rules on crisis and respite services no later than April 1, 2020. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to study the existing services for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism and determine the adequacy of the MaineCare reimbursement methodology and rates paid to providers for meeting the needs of persons at risk for out-of-home placement due to challenging behavior that affects health and safety. The department is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than January 30, 2020. LD 1486 Chaptered Law LD 1486 Chaptered Law fiscal note