An Act To Define Services for Maine Runaway and Homeless Youth
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1127
Sponsors: ALFOND, BRANNIGAN, CRAVEN, PERRY, SIMPSON, BUTTERFIELD, LAJOIE, STEVENS

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124thMAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1127 
S.P.418 
In Senate, March 25,2009 
An Act To Define Services for Maine Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggest~d and ordered printed. 
. Presented by Senator ALFOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Repres'entative ROTUNDO of Lewiston and 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BRANNIGAN of Cumberland, CRAVEN of Androscoggin, PERRY of Penobscot, 
SIMPSON of Androscoggin, Representatives: BUTTERFIELD of Bangor, LAJOIE of 
Lewiston, STEVENS of Bangor, ST9CKEY of Portland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by th~ People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 1071, sub-c. 15, as amended, is rep,ealed. 
" Sec. 2. 22 MRSA c. 1071, sub-c. 16 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 16 
MAINE RUNAWAY AND -HOMELESS YOUTH 
§4099-D. Definitions" 
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following" 
terms have the following meanings. 
1. Homeless youth .. "Homeless youth" means a person 21 years orage or younger 
. who is unaccompanied by a parent or guardian and is without shelter where appropriate 
care and supervision are available, whose parent or legal guardian is unable or unwilling 
to provide shelter and care or who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime 
residence. "Homeless youth" does not include a person incarcerated or otherwise detained 
under federal or state law. 
. 2. Fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. "Fixed, regular and adequate 
nighttime residence" means a dwelling at which a person resides on a regular basis that 
adequately provides safe shelter. "Fixed,· regular and adequate nighttime residence" does 
not include a publicly. or privately openited institutional shelter designed to provide 
temporary . living accommodations; transitional housing; a temporary placement with a 
peer, friend or family member who has not offered a permanent residence, residential 
lease or temporary lodging for more than 30. days; or a public or private place C not 
. designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. 
3. Runaway. "Runaway" means an unmarried child under 18 years of age who is 
absent. from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement withbut the 
consent of the parent, guardian or lawful custodian. 
§4099-E. Comprehensive program for homeless youth 
The department shall establish and support a comprehensive program for homeless 
youth in the State by· contracting with organizations and agencies licensed by the 
. department that provide street outreach, shelter and. transitional living services for 
homeless youth. The department shall by rule establish licensure requirements and shall 
establish performance-based contracts with organizations and agencies to provide the 
following programs and services: 
1. Street and community outreach and drop-in programs. Youth drop-in centers 
to provide walk-in· access to crisis intervention and ongoing supportive services, 
including one-to-one case management services on a self-referral basis and street and 
community outreach programs to locate, contact and provide information, referrals and 
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services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness and runaways. Information, 
referrals and services provided may include, but are not limited to family reunification 
services; conflict resolution or mediation counseling; assistance in obtaining temporary 
emergency shelter; case management aimed at obtaining food, clothing, medical care or 
mental health couns_eling; counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, 
sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancy; referrals to other agencies that provide 
support services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness and runaways; 
assistance with education, employment and independent living skills; aftercare services; 
and specialized services for highly vulnerable-runaways and homeless youth, including 
teen parents, sexually exploited youth and youth with mental illness or developmental 
disabilities; 
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'2. Emergency sheiteiprogram. Emergency shelter programs to provide homeless 
youth and runaways with referrals and walk-in access to short-term residential care on an 
emergency basis. The program must provide homeless youth and runaways with safe, 
dignified, voluntary housing, including private shower facilities, beds and at least one 
'meal each day, and assist a runaway with reunification with family or a legal guardian 
when required or appropriate. The services provided at emergency shelters may include, 
but are not limited to, family reunification services or referral to safe, dignified housing; 
individual, family and group counseling; assistance obtaining clothing; access -to medical 
and dental care and mental health counseling; education and employment services; 
recreational activities; case management, advocacy and referral services; independent 
living skills training; and aftercare, follow-up services and transportation; and 
3. Transitional living programs. Transitional living programs to' help homeless 
youth find and maintain safe, dignified housing. 'The program may also provide rental 
assistance and related supportive services or may refer youth to other organizations or, 
,agencies that provide such services. Services provided may include, but are not limited to, 
provision of safe, dignified housing; educational assessment and referrals to educational 
programs; career planning, employment, job skills training and independent living skills 
training; job placement; budgeting and money management; assistance in securing 
housing appropriate to needs and income; counseling regarding violence, prostitution, 
substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy; referral for medical 
services or chemical dependency treatment;, parenting skills; self-sufficiency support 
services or life skills training; and aftercare and follow-up services. 
§4099-F. Data collection 
The department shall collect, data from its licensed organizations and agencies to 
ensure that appropriate and high-quality services are being delivered to homeless youth, 
youth at risk of homelessness and runaways and shall use the data to monitor the success 
of the contracts and programs as well as changes in the rates of homelessness among 
youth in the State. 
§4099-G. Rules 
The department shall adopt niles as may be necessary for the effective administration 
of the comprehensive program under section 4099-E. Rules adopted pursuant to this 
section are routine technical rules as defined ~n Title 5, chapter 375? subchapter 2-A. 
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SUMMARY 
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This bill repeals the youth in need of services program in the Maine Revised Statutes; 
Title 22, chapter ·1071, subch~pter 15 and establishes a comprehensive program for 
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homeless youth and runaways. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human 
Services to implement the comprehensive program through performance-based contnlcts 
with organizations and agencies licensed by the department ,that provide street and 
community outreach, drop-in programs, emergency shelter and transitional living 
services. The bill specifies the type of services the program should provide and requires 
the department to coHect data from its li~ensed organizations and agencies for quality 
assurance purposes and to monitor'the success of the program as well as changes in the 
rates of homelessness among Maine's youth. The department is authOlized to adopt 
routine technical rules as may be necessary for the effective administration. of the 
program. , 
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