Resolve, To Fund a Group Home for Young Adults with Disabilities in Southern Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1206
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: HOBBINS, MERRILL, BROMLEY, MAYO, BARSTOW, HOGAN, PINGREE

Legislative Document 
No. 1206 
S.P.420 
In Senate, March 10, 2005 
Resolve, To Fund a Group Home for Young Adults with Disabilities 
in Southern Maine 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator HOBBINS of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative MERRILL of Appleton and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BROMLEY of Cumberland, MAYO of Sagadahoc, Representatives: BARSTOW of 
Gorham, HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach, PINGREE of North Haven. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, the needs 
southern Maine are not 
community setting; and 
of young 
currently 
adults with disabilities in 
being met in an appropriate 
Whereas, this legislation requires the establishment of at 
least one residential facility for young adults with disabilities 
by October 1, 2005; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Establish residential facility. Resolved: 
That, by October 
1, 
2005, 
the 
Department of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services shall 
establish at least one facility in Southern Maine to serve as a 
residential facility for up to 6 adult individuals, 
to 25 
years of age, referred to in this resolve as "individuals," who 
are 
in 
need 
of 
continuous 
care 
to 
treat 
their 
physical 
disabilities and who would otherwise be eligible for treatment in 
a 
nursing facility. 
In the residential facility established 
pursuant 
to 
this 
resolve, 
the 
department 
may 
permit 
the 
individuals to flexibly share the personal care, 
nursing and 
other home health services to which they would otherwise be 
eligible in a manner that jointly meets their medical needs; and 
be it further 
Sec. 2. Funding. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and 
Human 
Services 
shall 
seek 
to 
establish 
and 
operate 
the 
residential 
facility 
required 
under 
section 
wi thin 
the 
]6 
department's existing resources. 
For purposes of this section, 
"existing resources" includes money, 
such as 
funds associated 
with MaineCare and other state and federal programs, and private 
insurance that would otherwise be spent for the individual's 
nursing facility and home health care. 
If the department finds 
that existing resources 
are not sufficient to establish and 
operate the residential facility, the department is authorized to 
submi t 
a bill to request an appropriation not to exceed $80, 000 
in General Fund dollars, per year, for this purpose; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
by February 1, 
2006, 
the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services on the status of 
the residential facility required in section 1, its costs and the 
extent to which it can be used as a model to develop additional 
community placements for disabled individuals. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
B 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services to establish a facility in southern Maine to serve as a 
residential 
facility 
for 
young 
adults 
who 
are 
in 
need 
of 
continuous care to treat their physical disabilities and who 
would otherwise be eligible for treatment in a nursing facility. 
The 
resolve directs the department to seek to establish and 
operate this facility within existing resources but authorizes 
the department to seek an appropriation should existing resources 
not be sufficient. 
It further directs the department to report 
on the status of the residential facility, its costs and the 
extent to which it can be used as a model to develop additional 
community placements for disabled individuals.