An Act to Establish the Health Care Workforce Center
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0201
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PERRY, MARTIN, BLANCHETTE, GOODWIN, HUTTON, O'BRIEN, PELLON, SUSLOVIC
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 22 MRSA §1718

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 201 
H.P.160 
House of Representatives, January 21,2003 
An Act to Establish the Health Care Workforce Center 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PERRY of Calais. 
Cosponsored by Senator MARTIN of Aroostook and 
77l~ 
/J7.11/~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BLANCHETTE of Bangor, DUGA Y of Cherryfield, GOODWIN of 
Pembroke, HUTTON of Bowdoinham, O'BRIEN of Lewiston, PELLON of Machias, 
SUSLOVIC of Portland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§49-C is enacted to read: 
49-C. 
Health Care 
Human Services Workforce 
Center 
Expenses 
Only 
MRSA 
~ 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1718 is enacted to read: 
SI718. 
Health Care Workforce Center 
There 
is established the 
Health 
Care 
Workforce 
Center, 
referred to in this section as 
"the center," to provide an 
ongoing strategy for the allocation of the State's resources to 
the health care workforce in this State, in particular nurses and 
physician's assistants. 
1. 
Purposes. 
The purposes of the center are: 
A. 
To develop a strategic statewide plan for the health 
care workforce by establishing and maintaining a database on 
the current and projected supply and demand for nurses and 
physician's assistants; 
B. 
To 
convene representatives of nurses and physician's 
assistants, 
other 
health 
care 
providers, 
businesses, 
consumers, educators and Legislators to review and comment 
on data prepared for 
the center, 
to 
recommend 
systemic 
changes 
and strategies for 
implementation of 
recommended 
changes and to report periodically on progress regarding the 
health care workforce; and 
C. 
To enhance and promote the recruitment, recognition and 
retention of the health care workforce, including efforts 
regarding 
excellence 
in 
the 
health 
care 
workforce 
professions 
and positive media presentations 
and 
public 
relations. 
2. 
Board. 
The center is directed by a board of 8 members 
in accordance with this subsection. 
A. 
The Governor shall appoint 2 members, 
one who is a 
registered 
nurse 
and 
one 
who 
represents 
a 
statewide 
association of providers of long-term care. 
Of the initial 
appointees, 
the Governor shall designate one to serve 
a 
one-year term and one to serve a 2-year term. 
B. 
The President of the Senate shall appoint 3 members, one 
who represents a statewide association of nurses and one who 
represents 
a 
statewide association of hospitals. 
Of the 
initial appointees, 
the President shall designate one to 
serve a one-year term and 2 to serve 2-year terms. 
C. 
The Speaker of the House shall appoint 3 members, one 
who 
is 
a 
registered 
nurse 
who 
represents 
a 
statewide 
association of nurse executives and one who represents nurse 
educators. 
Of the initial appointees, 
the Speaker shall 
designate 
to 
serve 
2-year 
terms 
and 
one 
to 
serve 
a 
one-year term. 
D. 
Except as provided in paragraphs A to C, all members of 
the board serve for 2-year terms. 
E. 
At the first meeting of the board each year, the board 
shall elect a member to serve as chair. 
F. 
Board 
members 
not 
otherwise 
compensated 
by 
their 
employers may be reimbursed for expenses for their service 
on the board. 
3. 
Povers. 
The center may employ an executive director and 
may seek and accept outside funding to support the work of the 
center. 
Sec. 3. Effective date. 
This Act takes effect January 1, 2004. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Health Care Workforce Center to 
provide an ongoing strategy for the allocation of the State I s 
resources to the health care workforce in this State. 
The center 
will develop 
a 
strategic plan, 
convene 
groups 
of interested 
parties to recommend systemic changes and enhance and promote 
recruitment, 
recognition 
and 
retention 
of 
the 
health 
care 
workforce. 
The center will be directed by an 8-member board.