Resolve, To Direct Action on ~ealth Disparities of the Pass~amaquoddy Tribe and Washington County
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1228
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: SOCTOMAH, RA YE, BURNS, JOY, PERRY, PINGREE, TILTON

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAl E LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1228 
H.P.848 
House of Representatives, March 26, 2009 
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Resolve, To Direct Action on ~ealth Disparities of the 
Pass~amaquoddy Tribe and Washington County 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed .. 
IY/;U~ /J7. mtJC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SOCTOMAH of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. 
Cosponsored by Senator RA YE of Washington and 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, JOY of Crystal, McFADDEN of Dennysville, McLEOD 
olLee, PERRY of Calais, Speaker PINGREE of North Haven, TILTON of Harrington. 
Printed t'll recycled pilpcr 
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Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation directs the development of an action plan to address the 
. health disparities found in Washiilgton County and the Passamaquoddy Tribe; and 
Whereas, work on the plan must begin before the 90-day periodexpir.es in order for 
it to be completed in a timely fashion; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these factsci'eate ali emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
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immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it· 
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Sec. 1. Action plan on health disparities. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, offices of 
minority health and data, research and vital statistics and a Washington County health 
organization shall work with 'the Passamaquoddy health directors to help reduce health 
disparities between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the United States and 
Washington C~untYand the State and the United States and shall: 
1. Develop an action plan to address the health disparities; 
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2: Develop recommeJilclations for .data collection methods to address the disparities 
and for finding all data that has.been processed; and 
3. Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Hpman Services by January 
15,2010 on: 
A. The status of the health conditions and disparities; 
B. The status of the recommendations for data collection and for finding all data that 
has been processed; 
C. The status of the action plan, which will address the health needs Of the 
Passamaquoddy Tribe and Washington County; and 
D. Any recommended language necessary to implement this resolve and discussion 
of what is necessary to fully implement the action plan. 
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After receiving the rep~rt the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
ServiCes may submit legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 
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I 24th Legislature. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited' in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
Page I -124LR0370(Ol)-1 
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SUMMARY 
. This resolve directs the DepaJ1ment of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for 
Disease' Control and Prevention, offices of minority health and data, research and vital 
statistics and a Washington County health organization to work with the Passamaquoddy 
health directors to help reduce health disparities between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and 
the State and the United States and Washington County and the State and the United 
States. This work must include development of an action plan to address health disparities 
fOllnd between Washington County and the State and the United States and the 
. Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the United States and the development of 
recommendations for .data collection methods to address the disparities. A report must be 
submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human S~rvices by January 15, 
2010, and the committee may submit legislation related to the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.