Resolve, Regarding the Role of Local Regions in Maine's Emerging Public Health Infrastructure
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1812
Committee Amendment CA_A_H458 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 1264, L.D. 1812, "Resolve, Regarding 
the Role of Local Regions in Maine's Emerging Public Health Infrastructure" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Public Health Work Group was established by the Governor's Office 
on Health Policy and Finance pursuant to recommendations contained in the 2006 State 
Health Plan for Maine; and 
Whereas, the Public Health Work Group has issued consensus recommendations for 
the establishment of a regional public health infrastructure, including regional 
coordinating councils in 8 public health regions, both urban and rural, that will improve 
the public's health, and calls for certain other functions to be carried out at the local, 
regional and state levels through a partnership of government and nongovernmental 
entities; and 
Whereas, the mechanisms for governance and many matters related to the 
functioning of the local and regional public health structures have not yet been defined; 
and 
Whereas, an effective regional public health system must incorporate meaningful 
roles for both the public and private sectors, including, but not limited to, county and 
municipal governments, hospitals, other providers of medical care and behavioral health 
services and schools, and ensure that those roles are coordinated, complementary and 
responsive to local needs and are linked appropriately to state agencies; and 
Whereas, considerable progress on study and planning related to the establishment 
of the regional coordinating councils has been made in some counties of the newly 
designated regions, notably Cumberland, Sagadahoc and Penobscot counties, and this 
expertise will help guide and inform the Public Health Work Group as it further develops 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1264, L.D. 1812 
guidance for the establishment, authority and governance of the regional coordinating 
councils; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
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. Public Health Work Group membership expanded. Resolved: 
That the Governor shall expand the membership of the Public Health Work Group 
established under the State Health Plan pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2, 
chapter 5 to include a statewide family planning organization, aging agencies, emergency 
medical services, county commissioners, municipal elected officials, municipal health 
departments, local health officers, small and large hospitals, community health centers, 
public health organizations and associations, health care providers, behavioral health 
provider organizations, substance abuse prevention organizations, 
substance abuse 
treatment providers, emergency management officials, community social services 
agencies, statewide voluntary health agencies, comprehensive community health 
coalitions, education and training institutions, environmental health organizations, school 
administrative units, tribal representatives, the Department of Health and Human 
Services' Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Office of Substance 
Abuse, the Department of Education and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and 
Finance. There must be representatives from all 8 public health regions. The Public 
Health Work Group may not have more than 40 members. The Public Health Work 
Group shall notify members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services and the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government of the dates 
and locations of meetings related to this resolve; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Public Health Work Group shall report to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing 
Committee on State and Local Government by December 1, 2007. The report must 
include: 
1. A description of current plans for the development of a statewide public health 
services infrastructure, including the regional coordinating councils; 
2. Recommendations for a statewide public health infrastructure to be developed 
within existing resources over the next 5 years with the goals of ensuring access to public 
health services and of improving effectiveness and efficiencies of public health services 
delivery; 
3. Recommendations for any necessary changes to public health duties, financing 
and governance and the roles of public, private, grassroots and nonprofit organizations as 
well as the scope offunctions they perform in the public health system; and 
4. 
Draft legislation, as necessary, to carry out the Public Health Work Group's 
recommendations. 
The Public Health Work Group may form subcommittees as necessary to achieve 
these purposes. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit legislation to carry 
out the recommendations of the Public Health Work Group related to this resolve. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
-, 
"'1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to H.P. 1264, L.D. 1812 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve, which originally established the Regional 
Coordinating Councils Subcommittee under the Public Health Work Group to make 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and 
the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government related to the regional 
coordinating councils and authorized the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services to report out legislation. The amendment directs the Governor to expand the 
membership of the Public Health Work Group and specifies the groups that must be 
represented. It requires representation from the 8 public health regions. It limits the size 
of the work group to 40. It requires the Public Health Work Group to submit a report to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing 
Committee on State and Local Government by December 1, 2007 that includes current 
plans for the development of a statewide public health infrastructure, including the status 
of plans related to regional coordinating councils in the 8 public health regions, 
recommendations for a statewide public health infrastructure to be developed within 
existing resources over the next 5 years and necessary changes to public health duties, 
financing and governance and the roles of public, private, grassroots and nonprofit 
organizations as well as the scope of functions they perform in the public health system. 
It also requires the group to submit any draft legislation necessary and authorizes the 
Public Health Work Group to form subcommittees as necessary to achieve these 
purposes. It authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to 
submit legislation. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/05/07 
~aC!. 
LD 1812 
LR 2384(02) 
Resolve, Regarding the Role of Local Regions in Maine's Emerging Public Health Infrastructure 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" PI " 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs associated with the Public Health Work Group can be absorbed by the Department of Health and 
Human Services utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR2384(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1