An Act To Reduce Opioid Overprescription, Overuse and Abuse
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1501
Committee Amendment CA_A_H542 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If" to H.P. 1102, L.D. 1501, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Opioid Overprescription, Overuse and Abuse" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Reduce Opioid Overprescription, Overuse and Abuse' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Work group on prescribing opioid drugs for chronic, 
noncancer-related pain. 
Resolved: 
That the Substance Abuse Services 
Commission, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, 
subsection 13-C and referred to in this resolve as "the commission," shall convene a work 
group of commission members and public and private stakeholders, referred to in this 
resolve as "the work group," to review and make recommendations for improvements in 
how physicians and other prescribers treat patients in chronic, noncancer-related pain 
without causing addiction or diversion. 
1. Tasks. The work group's tasks include, but are not limited to: 
A. Review of current efforts in the State aimed at preventing addiction and diversion; 
B. Examination of similar efforts in other states, including Washington State, which 
in 2010 enacted comprehensive legislation on this subject; 
C. Consideration of additional tools that could lead to decreased abuse while not 
unduly restricting access to adequate pain control; and 
D. 
Consideration of enhancements to the Controlled Substances Prescription 
Monitoring Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
7248. 
2. Chair; membership. The commission shall appoint a chair of the work group 
from among the work group members. The membership of the work group must include 
representatives appointed or invited to participate by the commission from all of the 
following state agencies, advocacy organizations and the public: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1102, L.D. 1501 
A. Licensing boards oflicensees who prescribe narcotics; 
B. 
Representatives of professional associations representing the major health 
professions that prescribe controlled substances; 
C. The Maine Hospice Council, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, 
section 8611; 
D. Representatives oflicensed pharmacies; and 
E. 
Representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
MaineCare Services, the Maine Hospital Association, specialists in substance abuse 
treatment and services, specialists in the treatment of addiction and specialists in the 
treatment of pain. 
3. Funding. The commission shall fund the work of the work group from within 
existing resources. 
4. Report. The commission shall report the findings and any recommendations of 
the work group to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services not later 
than December 1, 2011.' 
SUMMARY 
The amendment replaces the bill with a resolve establishing a work group to be 
convened by the Substance Abuse Services Commission to review and make 
recommendations on treatment for chronic noncancer-related pain to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services not later than December 1, 2011. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/311 II 
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LD 1501 
LR 1799(02) 
An Act To Reduce Opioid Overprescription, Overuse and Abuse 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A" 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR1799(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1