Representative Richard Farnsworth [Democrat]
Portland ~ District 37
Towns in District: part of Portland
House Committees:
♦ Leaves of Absence (Chair)
Joint Committees:
♦ Education and Cultural Affairs
✉ Richard.Farnsworth@legislature.maine.gov
☎ 1-800-423-2900
✉ 55 Old Mast Road
Portland, Maine 04102
Return to a list of All Representatives
Organization | Score | Source |
Maine People's Alliance (MPA), 2019 | 10 of 10 | Maine People's Alliance, 2019 |
Maine People's Alliance, Will of the Voters, 2018 | 91% | Maine People's Alliance Will of the Voters, 2018 |
Maine People's Alliance, 2018 | 92% | Maine People's Alliance, 2018 |
Maine Conservation Voters (MCV), 2019 | 7 of 7 | Maine Conservation Voters, 2019 |
Maine Conservation Voters, 2018 | 8 of 8 | Maine Conservation Voters, 2018 |
Maine Conservation Voters, 2017 | 7 of 7 | Maine Conservation Voters, 2017 |
Maine AFL-CIO, 2019 | 10 of 10 | AFL-CIO, 2019 |
Maine AFL-CIO, 2017 | 100% | No longer available online |
Maine Women's Lobby, 2019 | 7 of 7 | Maine Women's Lobby, 2019 |
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2019 | 6 of 6 | Planned Parenthood ME Action Fund, 2019 |
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017 | 100% | Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017 |
Firearms Control, 2019 | 7 of 7 | This website, see below for roll calls included. |
Scorecards are an organization's means of holding legislators accountable to the organization's interests and values. Each organization chooses a subset of bills that are a priority for them, and then scores each legislator by the legislator's vote relative to what would be the organization's preferred vote on the bill.
For a listing of the votes included on scorecards prior to 2019, see the hyperlinked sources given in the table above or the "Explanations, Legislative Scorecards" tab on this site. For 2019 scorecards, see the hyperlinked site given in the table above or the vote detail below, "Roll Call Vote Detail for 2019 Scorecards."The graphs below are frequency histograms that show this representative's score relative to the scores of all representatives by placing an "X" over this representative's score. In all graphs, D is Democrat (blue), R is Republican (red) and Ind is Independent (black). For graphs prior to 2019, additional parties include Common Sense Independent (goldenrod) and Green Independent (green).Roll Call | Bill | Motion | MPA vote | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | LD 179 An Act to Change the Name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass | Yea | Yea |
250 | LD 255 Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require that Signatures on a Direct Initiative Come from Each Congressional District | Final Passage as a Constitutional Amendment (requires 2/3 of membership) | Nay | Nay |
272 | LD 308 An Act to Increase Notification Time Periods for Rent Increases and Terminations of Tenancies at Will | Reconsider passage after Governor's veto | Yea | Yea |
75 | LD 369 An Act to Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees | Accept Committee Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-79 | Yea | Yea |
278 | LD 420 An Act to Amend the Maine Exclusion Amount in the Estate Tax | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-610 | Yea | Yea |
70 | LD 820 An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-210 | Yea | Yea |
237 | LD 949 An Act to Prevent Overdose Deaths | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Nay | Nay |
306 | LD 1177 An Act to Improve Public Sector Labor Relations | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-308 | Yea | Yea |
182 | LD 1282 An Act to Establish a Green New Deal for Maine | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-413 | Yea | Yea |
307 | LD 1317 An Act to Restore Services to Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-248 | Yea | Yea |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 10 votes, agreed on 10 votes, 100 percent agreement |
Roll Call | Bill | Motion | MCV vote | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
37 | LD 289 An Act to Prohibit the Use of Certain Disposable Food Service Containers | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-49 | Yea | Yea |
293 | LD 1494 An Act to Reform Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-49 | Yea | Yea |
157 | LD 1532 An Act to Eliminate Single-use Plastic Carry-out Bags | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-392 | Yea | Yea |
209 | LD 1679 An Act to Promote Clean Energy Jobs and to Establish the Maine Climate Council | Enact as an Emergency measure (2/3 of members required) | Yea | Yea |
282 | LD 1711 An Act to Promote Solar Energy Projects and Distributed Generation Resources in Maine | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-295 | Yea | Yea |
208 | LD 1775 An Act to Protect Sustenance Fishing | Enact | Yea | Yea |
329 | LD 1851 An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Land Conservation, Water Access, Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife and Fish Habitats and Farmland and Working Waterfront Preservation | Enact as a bond issue (requires 2/3 present) | Yea | Yea |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 7 votes, agreed on 7 votes, 100 percent agreement |
Roll Call | Bill | Motion | AFL-CIO vote | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
227 | LD 240 An Act To Allow Public Employers of Teachers to Negotiate Regarding Educational Policies | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-518 | Yea | Yea |
75 | LD 369 An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees | Accept Committee Report A, Ought to Pass as amended by Commitee amendment S-79 | Yea | Yea |
306 | LD 1177 An Act To Improve Public Sector Labor Relations | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-308 | Yea | Yea |
111 | LD 1232 An Act To Ensure the Right To Work without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union as a Condition of Employment | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Yea | Yea |
182 | LD 1282 An Act To Establish a Green New Deal for Maine | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-413 | Yea | Yea |
120 | LD 1459 An Act To Expand Application of the Maine Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973 to Harvesters and Haulers of Forest Products | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass | Yea | Yea |
206 | LD 1524 An Act To Prevent Wage Theft and Promote Employer Accountability | Enact LD 1524 as amended by Commitee amendment S-203 | Yea | Yea |
195 | LD 1560 An Act Regarding Utility Reorganizations | Enact LD 1560 as amended by Committee amendment S-192 as an emergency measure | Yea | Yea |
156 | LD 1564 An Act To Authorize Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-158 | Yea | Yea |
190 | LD 1658 An Act To Clarify Prevailing Wage Rates on State Projects Using Federal Funds | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-200 | Yea | Yea |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 10 votes, agreed on 10 votes, 100 percent agreement |
Roll Call | Bill | Motion | Vote to agree | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
199 | LD 37 An Act To Allow for the Sale of Nonprescription Drugs through Vending Machines | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-466 | Yea | Yea |
28 | LD 278 An Act Regarding Pay Equality | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-28 | Yea | Yea |
75 | LD 369 An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees | Accept Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-79 | Yea | Yea |
246 | LD 820 An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine | Enact LD 820 as amended by Committee amendment H-210 | Yea | Yea |
80 | LD 1025 An Act To Prohibit the Provision of Conversion Therapy to Minors by Certain Licensed Professionals | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-213 | Yea | Yea |
114 | LD 1261 An Act To Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals To Perform Abortions | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass | Yea | Yea |
307 | LD 1317 An Act To Restore Services To Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-248 | Yea | Yea |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 7 votes, agreed on 7 votes, 100 percent agreement |
Roll Call | Bill | Motion | Vote to agree | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
199 | LD 37 An Act To Allow for the Sale of Nonprescription Drugs through Vending Machines | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-466 | Yea | Yea |
No roll call; passed under gavel | LD 78 An Act To Facilitate Access to the MaineCare Family Planning Benefit | Enact LD 78 as amended by Committee amendment H-132 | Yea | Yea assumed (i.e., no objection) |
153 | LD 494 An Act To Update the Family Planning Statutes | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-151 | Yea | Yea |
246 | LD 820 An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine | Enact LD 820 as amended by Committee amendment H-210 and amended by Senate amendment S-275 | Yea | Yea |
114 | LD 1261 An Act To Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals To Perform Abortions | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass | Yea | Yea |
No roll call; passed under gavel | LD 1580 An Act To Protect Licensing Information of Medical Professionals | Enact LD 1580 as amended by Committee amendment H-631 | Yea | Yea assumed (i.e., no objection) |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 4 votes, agreed on 4 votes, 100 percent agreement |
Roll Call | Bill | Motion | Vote to agree | Representative's vote |
---|---|---|---|---|
204 | LD 379 An Act To Protect Children by Requiring the Safe Storage of Loaded Firearms | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Nay | Nay |
211 | LD 533 An Act To Eliminate the Statutory Duty To Retreat and Affirm the Right of Self-defense | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Yea | Yea |
252 | LD 1099 An Act To Reduce Suicides and Violent Crimes by Requiring a 72-hour Waiting Period after the Sale of a Firearm | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Nay | Nay |
253 | LD 1276 An Act To Better Enforce the Prohibition against Dangerous Persons Possessing Firearms | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-274 | Yea | Yea |
296 | LD 1312 An Act Regarding Access to Firearms by Extremely Dangerous and Suicidal Individuals | Accept Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-285 | Yea | Yea |
235 | LD 1470 An Act To Allow the Prohibition of Weapons at Public Proceedings and Voting Places | Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass | Nay | Nay |
315 | LD 1811 An Act To Enhance Personal and Public Safety by Requiring Evaluations of and Judicial Hearings for Persons in Protective Custody Regarding Risk of Harm and Restricting Access to Dangerous Weapons | Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-357 | Yea | Yea |
Total for Representative Farnsworth: | Present for 7 votes, agreed on 7 votes, 100 percent agreement |
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, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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 588 | An Act To Confer Maine Jurisdiction in Civil Suits Involving Certain Contracts | Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 14, 2019 | |
LD 588 This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to allow a resident of this State or a corporation incorporated in this State that enters into a contract in this State for services or products to be provided exclusively in this State to bring suit or defend against suit in this State. It proposes to provide that contractual language that requires a resident of this State or a corporation incorporated in this State that has entered into a contract in this State for services or products to be provided exclusively in this State to submit to the jurisdiction of a court outside this State is void. |
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 651 | Resolve, To Facilitate School Access to Federal Title I Funds and Improve the Delivery of Special Education Services | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-154, Enacted, Signed into law May 16, 2019 | |
LD 651 This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing special education.
Amendment H-154 This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment directs the Department of Education to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than January 1, 2020 on progress, including recommendations and suggested legislation, on the following:
LD 651 Chaptered Law LD 651 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 1376 | An Act To Direct the Department of Education To Amend Its Rules To Ensure That Physical Restraint and Seclusion Policies Are Followed and Make Biennial Reports on the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-617, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 18, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322 | |
LD 1376 This bill directs the Department of Education to amend its rule Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age Twenty to include concepts from and references to the department's rule Chapter 33: Rule Governing Physical Restraint and Seclusion. It directs schools to make annual reports to the department regarding incidents of physical restraint and seclusion and directs the Commissioner of Education to report biennially to the Governor and the Legislature on data regarding the use of physical restraint and seclusion. The amendment also directs the Department of Education to, by rule, develop and implement a performance review system to define and monitor all schools' use of physical restraint and seclusion. The amendment also requires the Department of Education to submit major substantive rules by December 5, 2019, provide guidance to schools regarding these rules and submit a plan by January 15, 2020 to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on professional development opportunities to promote preventive practice models that will reduce dependence on physical restraint and seclusion. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. This amendment also incorporates a fiscal note. The fiscal note identifies the requirement that school administrative units break down the aggregate data by grade level or age group, gender, race and type of plan as a potential unfunded state mandate. Because schools are already required to collect this data pursuant to department rule Chapter 33: Rule Governing Physical Restraint and Seclusion, the committee finds this additional requirement does not require an expansion or modification of activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures.LD 1376 Amendment H-617 fiscal note |
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 |
LD 1890 | An Act To Improve Prisoner Transport Safety by Specifically Authorizing Transport of Prisoners by Transport Officers | Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Work session held March 4, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1890 This bill amends the civil procedure laws governing the transporting of prisoners to specifically authorize the transport of a prisoner by transport officers when a court has issued a writ of habeas corpus requiring that prisoner to be brought before the court. |
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Work session held February 20, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-698, and engrossed, House enacted as an emergency measure, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations March 12, 2020 | |
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-39 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, Public hearing held June 17, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, Tabled in the House pending final passage, May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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:
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, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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:
|
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, both chambers accepted Majority Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-430, adopted House amendment H-541, and engrossed LD 795 with amendments H-430 and H-541. Under suspension of the rules, the House reconsidered adoption of amendment H-541, indefinitely postponed amendment H-541, adopted House amendment H-675, and engrossed LD 795 with amendments H-430 and H-675. The Senate receded and concurred in engrossing LD 795 with amendments H-430 and H-675, tabled in the House pending final passage, March 17, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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-675 This amendment amends the bill by:
LD 795 fiscal note LD 795 Amendment H-430 fiscal note LD 795 Amendment H-675 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. |
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, Work session March 12, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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 Pell Grant Match Program | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, both chambers accepted Majority Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-692, and engrossed, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations March 12, 2020 | |
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. Amendment H-692 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, changes the title and renames the program the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program. The amendment establishes the program and provides that a student is eligible for the program if the student is a resident of the State, is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and maintains a minimum grade point average. The grant award may not exceed 100% of the amount of funds provided by the Federal Pell Grant that the student receives for the academic year in which the student applies. The availability of the grant and the amount of the grant are subject to the amount available in the established fund, and the Maine Community College System may adopt rules to implement and administer the program and fund. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section with an appropriation of $3,600,000. LD 860 Amendment H-692 fiscal note |
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, Public hearing held June 17, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Reported out with divided report, OTPA/ONTP, House tabled pending acceptance of either report March 10, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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. Amendment H-725 This amendment clarifies which employees' duties include protecting public safety and are therefore prohibited from striking. It prohibits a public employer from permanently replacing an employee because that employee engaged in a strike. It clarifies that under certain circumstances an employer may require an employee to report to work during a strike, but allows the employee to file a grievance if the employee is required to work during a strike. It also specifies that judicial employees whose duties ensure an individual's procedural due process rights are not denied are prohibited from striking. LD 900 Amendment H-725 fiscal note |
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, Work session March 12, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
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, Amended by Committee amendment S-70 and House amendment H-279, Enacted, 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. Amendment S-70 This amendment allows, but does not require, municipal agents to charge a service fee for registration of a motor vehicle, up to $5 for a renewal and up to $6 for a new registration. It also allows, but does not require, municipal agents to charge a service fee for registration of an all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile or watercraft, up to $3 for a renewal and up to $5 for a new registration. Amendment H-279 This amendment strikes the provisions in the bill that allow an increase of municipal agent fees for watercraft, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle 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.
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:
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 25, 2020 | |
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:
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 amendment H-253 and engrossed, May 30, 2019, House adopted amendment S-170 to amendment H-253 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. |
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: Referred to Taxation Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Reported out with divided Committee report, OTPA H-747/ONTP, Tabled in House pending acceptance of either committee report, March 17, 2020, carried over to any special session of the 129th Legislature in the same posture via Joint Order SP 788 | |
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. Amendment H-747 This amendment changes the local option sales tax proposed in the bill by limiting it to lodging; limiting it to 1%; and requiring it to be imposed year-round. The amendment changes the distribution of local sales tax net revenue to 75% for the municipality imposing the tax and 25% to be distributed to the Maine Rural Development Authority. The amendment also provides that a local option sales tax may not take effect before July 1, 2021. LD 1254 Amendment H-747 fiscal note |
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.
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.
Amendment H-578 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, makes the following changes to the bill.
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, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 6, 2020 | |
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 |
LD 1778 | An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning the Children's Cabinet and Its Advisory Councils (Governor's Bill) | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-267, Enacted, Signed into law June 20, 2019 | |
LD 1778 This bill:
Amendment S-267 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the membership of the Maine Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council to include 2 members of the Senate and 2 members of the House of Representatives, one from each of the 2 political parties having the greatest number of members in the House and Senate. It also requires that the member who is the parent of a young child be appointed by the Speaker of the House and the member representing child abuse and neglect prevention be appointed by the President of the Senate and adds 2 members who represent public and private family child care providers nominated by their organizations and appointed by the Children's Cabinet. The amendment also requires the council to submit its annual report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and health and human services matters in addition to the Children's Cabinet. The amendment also adds a member of the Maine Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council to the Education Research Institute Steering Committee in place of the member of the Maine Children's Growth Council. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section.LD 1778 Chaptered Law LD 1778 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1855 | An Act To Include Student Absences for Mental Health or Behavioral Health Needs as Excusable Absences | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-671, Enacted, Signed into law February 21, 2020 | |
LD 1855 Current law provides that a person's absence from school is excused when the absence is due to personal illness. This bill specifies that a person's absence is excused when the absence is due to reasons of personal health, including the person's mental and behavioral health Amendment H-671 This amendment specifies that a person's absence from school is excused when the absence is due to reasons of physical health, as well as the person's mental and behavioral health. LD 1855 Chaptered Law LD 1855 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1857 | An Act To Protect Teachers from Punitive or Retaliatory Transfers | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 5, 2020 | |
LD 1857 This bill prohibits the transfer of a teacher to another location or teaching assignment for a punitive or retaliatory reason without the teacher's consent. It authorizes a teacher who has been involuntarily transferred to request a hearing with the school board and requires the school board to reverse the transfer if the teacher demonstrates that the transfer was for a punitive or retaliatory reason. |
LD 1858 | An Act To Protect Teachers from Professional Teacher Certificate Endorsement Changes | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-676, Enacted, Signed into law March 10, 2020 | |
LD 1858 This bill provides that a rule adopted that amends specifications for grades or subject areas endorsements for a professional teacher certificate does not apply to the endorsements on a professional teacher certificate held by a person if the endorsements were issued prior to or during the school year preceding the adoption of the rules and that a teacher may renew the teacher's professional teacher certificate with the same grades and subject areas endorsements as were originally issued to that teacher. Amendment H-676 This amendment provides that an amendment to the teacher certification rules that revises the qualifications for a credential or the grades or subject area endorsements for a professional teacher certificate does not apply to:
LD 1858 Chaptered Law LD 1858 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1860 | An Act To Establish a Process for the Consideration and Implementation of Changes to Mandated Instruction or Training for Students | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-740, engrossed and enacted March 17, 2020, Governor's action pending | |
LD 1860 This bill requires that, upon referral of proposed legislation to establish or substantially expand mandated instruction or training in public schools, the joint standing committee of the Legislature considering the proposal must request that the Commissioner of Education convene a review committee to review whether the subject of the proposal is already addressed within existing courses of study aligned with the system of learning results and, if it is not, analyze the impact of establishing or substantially expanding the mandated instruction or training, including the availability of resources, staff expertise, the number of required courses of study that already exist and the available hours of instruction. The commissioner is directed to submit a final report to the joint standing committee that includes any legislation required to implement the commissioner's recommendations. Amendment H-740 This amendment does the following.
LD 1860 fiscal note LD 1860 Amendment H-740 fiscal note |
LD 1870 | An Act To Create the Maine Lighthouse Trust Registration Plate | Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-394, and engrossed, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Highway March 10, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1870 This bill creates the Maine Lighthouse Trust special registration plate to support lighthouse restoration and preservation efforts. Amendment S-394 This amendment provides funding for the design and manufacture of the new Maine Lighthouse Trust license plate. LD 1870 fiscal note LD 1870 Amendment S-394 fiscal note |
LD 1888 | An Act To Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals | Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Work session held March 5, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1888 This bill bans the use of nonselective herbicides, including, but not limited to, glyphosate, within 75 feet of school grounds, public playgrounds and child care centers. |
LD 1934 | An Act Regarding Prior Authorization for Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder under the MaineCare Program | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-751, Enacted, March 18, 2020 | |
LD 1934 This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from requiring under the MaineCare program prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder for the prescription of at least one drug for each type of medication used in medication-assisted treatment, except that the department may not require prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder for a pregnant woman. Amendment H-751 This amendment makes the following changes to the bill.
LD 1934 Chaptered Law LD 1934 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1937 | An Act To Provide Timely Access to Behavioral Health Services for Maine Children and To Address Trauma and the Impacts of the Opioid Crisis | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-708, and engrossed, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1937 This bill provides funding to increase rates for adolescent rehabilitation facilities under the Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 97, Appendix B, Principles of Reimbursement for Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities and all rates under rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65, Behavioral Health Services and Chapter III, Section 97, Appendix D, Principles of Reimbursement for Child Care Facilities by 30% no later than July 1, 2020. Amendment H-708 This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, replaces the appropriations and allocations section. Instead of providing a rate increase to all rates under the Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65, Behavioral Health Services, the amendment provides that the rate increase applies only to children's home and community-based treatment services under that section. LD 1937 Amendment H-708 fiscal note |
LD 1938 | An Act Concerning MaineCare Coverage for Donor Breast Milk | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-706, and engrossed, House enacted, Senate tabled to Special Appropriations March 17, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1938 This bill requires that the Department of Health and Human Services provide reimbursement under the MaineCare program for pasteurized donor breast milk provided to an infant if a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse signs an order stating that such milk is medically necessary and the infant is medically or physically unable to receive maternal breast milk or participate in breastfeeding or the infant's mother is medically or physically unable to produce maternal breast milk in quantities sufficient for the infant. Amendment H-706 This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, amends the bill to change the criteria by which an infant receiving MaineCare benefits may receive pasteurized donor breast milk to be consistent with the current coverage of donor breast milk under the federal TRICARE program providing health insurance to uniformed service members and veterans and their families. LD 1938 fiscal note LD 1938 Amendment H-706 fiscal note |
LD 1945 | An Act To Require Forest Rangers To Be Trained at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (Emergency) | Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law March 17, 2020 | |
LD 1945 This bill requires forest rangers hired on or after July 1, 2019 to complete the basic law enforcement training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. It exempts forest ranger pilots, regardless of when they were hired, and forest rangers hired prior to July 1, 2019 from the requirement to complete this basic law enforcement training program. LD 1945 Chaptered Law LD 1945 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1946 | An Act To Improve Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care by Providing Care in Clinical Reproductive and Sexual Health Care Settings | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Work session held March 5, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1946 This bill establishes a program within the Department of Health and Human Services to deliver mental health and behavioral health services in clinical reproductive and sexual health care settings through the deployment of licensed mental health professionals in those settings and by enhancing patient screening and care coordination. It includes an appropriations and allocations section with a $150,000 annual appropriation beginning in fiscal year 2020-21. |
LD 1948 | An Act To Prohibit, Except in Emergency Situations, the Performance without Consent of Pelvic Examinations on Unconscious or Anesthetized Patients | Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Amended by Committee amendment H-688, Enacted, Signed into law March 17, 2020 | |
LD 1948 This bill provides that, prior to administering or supervising a pelvic examination on an anesthetized or unconscious patient, a physician must obtain the patient's informed consent to the pelvic examination unless the examination is within the scope of the procedure or examination for which the patient has already consented, the pelvic examination of an unconscious patient is required for diagnostic purposes and is medically necessary or the pelvic examination is authorized pursuant to the implied consent provision in the Maine Health Security Act relating to forensic examinations of unconscious alleged victims of sexual assault. Amendment H-688 This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires that, prior to performing or supervising a pelvic, rectal or prostate examination, a health care practitioner must obtain the patient's informed consent to that examination unless the examination of an unconscious patient is required for diagnostic purposes and is medically necessary or the examination is authorized pursuant to the implied consent provision in the Maine Health Security Act relating to forensic examinations of unconscious alleged victims of sexual assault. The amendment clarifies that the provisions apply more broadly to licensed health care practitioners, not just physicians as in the bill, and reallocates the provision to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24, chapter 21, subchapter 5. The amendment expands the scope of the bill to include rectal and prostate examinations and also requires a health care practitioner to obtain the patient's informed consent orally and in writing. LD 1948 Chaptered Law LD 1948 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 1950 | An Act To Advance Palliative Care Utilization in the State (Emergency) | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 12, 2020 | |
LD 1950 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide reimbursement under the MaineCare program for palliative care. It also requires the department to adopt rules that support and standardize the delivery of palliative care in the State, including but not limited to strategies for the distribution of public educational documents and the distribution by health care providers of information regarding the availability of palliative care to patients. It also requires the department to consult with the Maine Hospice Council, the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Advisory Council and other stakeholders when developing educational documents and rules related to palliative care. |
LD 1956 | Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions (Emergency) | Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Work session held February 26, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 1956 This resolve establishes the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions, which is a 10-member commission directed to review data on housing shortages in the State for low-income and middle-income households, state laws that affect the local regulation of housing and efforts in other states and municipalities to address housing shortages and to consider measures that would encourage increased housing options in the State. The commission must, no later than November 4, 2020, submit a report, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature. |
LD 1975 | An Act To Facilitate Dental Treatment for Children | Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-401, Enacted, Signed into law March 17, 2020 | |
LD 1975 This bill prohibits a health insurance carrier from imposing a waiting period for any dental or oral health service or treatment, except for orthodontic treatment, for an enrollee under 19 years of age. Amendment S-401 This amendment is the majority report of the committee and replaces the bill. Like the bill, the amendment prohibits a health insurance carrier or dental insurer from imposing a waiting period for any dental or oral health service or treatment, except for orthodontic treatment, for an enrollee under 19 years of age. The bill allocates the prohibition to the Maine Insurance Code, chapter 56-A. The amendment allocates the prohibition to the appropriate chapters of the Maine Insurance Code to ensure the prohibition applies to stand-alone dental insurance plans and to health insurance plans that provide coverage for dental or oral health services. The amendment makes clear that the provisions apply to policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021. The amendment also corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2019, chapters 274 and 388, which affected the same provision of law.LD 1975 Chaptered Law LD 1975 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 2016 | An Act Regarding School Discipline for Maine's Youngest Students | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 17, 2020 | |
LD 2016 This bill provides that a student code of conduct may not prescribe suspension, expulsion or the withholding of recess as a consequence of a violation of the student code of conduct by any student enrolled in grade 5 or below except as provided under the federal Gun-Free Schools Act. The bill also provides that any student enrolled in grade 6 or above who is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals is entitled to representation at state expense during an expulsion proceeding. |
LD 2020 | An Act To Strengthen Maritime Education by Amending the Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-439, Enacted, Signed into law March 18, 2020 | |
LD 2020 This bill amends the provision of law terminating the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering 90 days after adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature to provide that the school is terminated 90 days after adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature. It also removes references to residential students and amends reporting requirements for the school by incorporating reporting requirements similar to those of charter schools. Amendment S-439 This amendment changes the date the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering is terminated from 90 days after adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature as proposed in the bill to 90 days after adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature. The amendment also requires the board of trustees of the school to include in the board's annual report for the 2019-2020 academic year a plan for the school's future based on the board's exploration of practicable organizational structures for the school. LD 2020 Chaptered Law LD 2020 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 2024 | An Act To Remove from the Calculation of the Cost of Education the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Teacher Plan Unfunded Actuarial Liability | Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Work session held February 5, 2020, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 2024 Current law provides a method of calculating the state share percentage of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 that includes the unfunded actuarial liability of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System as it applies to teachers. This bill repeals that provision of law. |
LD 2096 | An Act To Save Lives by Capping the Out-of-pocket Cost of Certain Medications | Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-772 and House amendment H-778, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law March 18, 2020 | |
LD 2096 This bill provides that a health insurance carrier that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs may not impose a cost-sharing requirement on the enrollee that results in out-of-pocket costs to the enrollee in excess of $100 per 30-day supply of insulin. Amendment H-772 This amendment replaces the bill. Part A provides that a health insurance carrier that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs may not impose a cost-sharing requirement on an enrollee that results in out-of-pocket costs to the enrollee in excess of $35 per prescription for a 30-day supply of insulin. The requirements apply to all health insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021. Part B authorizes a pharmacist to dispense emergency refills of insulin and associated insulin-related supplies. The amendment requires that the insulin dispensed be in a quantity that is the lesser of a 30-day supply and the smallest available package. The amendment also requires the Maine Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules to establish adequate training requirements and protocols for dispensing insulin. Amendment H-778 This amendment adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause. LD 2096 Chaptered Law LD 2096 Chaptered Law fiscal note |
LD 2121 | 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, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 2121 This resolve 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, members of organizations or associations knowledgeable about services for young adults with disabilities after high school, a parent or guardian of a young adult with a disability and a a young adult with a disability who is receiving services from the State. 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 2141 | Resolve, To Ensure Continued Services for Children with Disabilities by Imposing a Delay on MaineCare Rulemaking until an Impact Study Is Completed | Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, carried over in the same posture to any special session of the 129th Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 788 | |
LD 2141 This resolve imposes a delay on the adoption by the Department of Health and Human Services of any rule that proposes to change provisions of 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual governing school-based services. It requires the department, before initiating rulemaking, to complete an impact study setting forth the rationale for the proposed changes, the financial impacts on affected families and providers of school-based services, potential service delays and other issues relating to state and federal law. The department is required to seek and consider input from affected provider groups, schools, children and family advocacy groups, the Department of Education, the Child Development Services System and other stakeholders and is also required to incorporate into the study the recommendations and implementation plan for early intervention services in public schools that will be forthcoming from the review of the State's early childhood special education services being carried out pursuant to Public Law 2019, chapter 343, Part VVVV. This report, produced by an independent entity, is due to be completed on December 1, 2020. It requires the department to submit the completed study and a further report regarding any proposed rules or modifications to current rule pertaining to medically necessary school-based services to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than April 1, 2021. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out legislation relating to the subject matter of the study and the report to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature. It authorizes the department, following completion of its study and report but no earlier than July 1, 2021, to initiate rulemaking to change rules governing school-based services provided under 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual and specifies that any rules adopted are major substantive rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. |