Resolve, To Study Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1558
Committee: Health and Human Services

Legislative Document 
No. 1558 
H.P. 1144 
House of Representatives, May 10, 2011 
Resolve, To Study Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine 
Reported by Representative STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland for the Government 
Oversight Committee pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 997, subsection 
2. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission To Study 
Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
no more than 13 members appointed as follows: 
1.  The President of the Senate shall: 
A.  Appoint 3 members of the Senate, including a member from each of the 2 parties 
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature. At least one of the appointees 
must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs 
and at least one of the appointees must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services; and 
B.  Invite the participation of the following as ex officio voting members of the 
commission: 
(1)  The Governor or the Governor's designee; 
(2)  The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services or the 
commissioner's designee; 
(3)  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's 
designee; and 
(4)  The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within 
the Department of Health and Human Services or the director's designee; and 
2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall: 
A.  Appoint 4 members of the House of Representatives, including members from 
each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature.  At least 
one of the appointees must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations 
and Financial Affairs and at least one of the appointees must serve on the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and 
B.  Invite the participation of the following as voting members of the commission: 
(1)  One representative of the organizations providing services supported by 
funds from the Fund for a Healthy Maine; and 
(2)  One public member who possesses expertise in the subject matter of the 
study under this resolve; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 10 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been made.  The chairs of the commission shall call 
and convene the first meeting of the commission within 15 days of the effective date of 
this resolve.  If a majority of but not all appointments have been made within 10 days of 
the effective date of this resolve, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative 
Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be 
it further 
Sec. 5.  Meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission may meet only when the 
Legislature is not in regular or special session.  The commission is authorized to meet up 
to 6 times to accomplish its duties; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall review the alignment of 
allocations from the Fund for a Healthy Maine, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 22, section 1511, with the State's current public health care and preventive health 
priorities and goals.  The commission shall gather information and data from public and 
private entities as necessary to: 
1.  Identify or review the State's current public health care and preventive health 
priorities and goals; 
2.  Identify or review strategies for addressing priorities and goals and potential 
effectiveness of those strategies; 
3.  Assess the level of resources needed to properly pursue the strategies identified in 
subsection 2; 
4.  Make recommendations for how Fund for a Healthy Maine funds should be 
allocated among existing and new programs to most effectively support the State's current 
public health and preventive health priorities, goals and strategies; and 
5.  Make recommendations for processes to be used to ensure that Fund for a Healthy 
Maine allocations stay aligned with the State's health priorities and goals; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it 
further 
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 7, 2011, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and 
the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The committees may 
submit legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 125th 
Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve implements one recommendation for legislative action found in the 
report on Fund for a Healthy Maine programs submitted by the Office of Program 
Evaluation and Government Accountability in October 2009.  The original allocations 
from the fund to various health efforts were established more than 10 years ago and have 
remained relatively consistent.  This resolve establishes a commission tasked with 
reviewing whether allocations of the fund are properly aligned with the State's current 
public and preventive health priorities, strategies and goals and recommending 
adjustments to allocations as necessary. 
Approved: 04/28/11
LD 1558
LR 2152(01)
Legislative Cost/Study
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Legislative Cost/Study
The general operating expenses of this study commission are projected to be $5,760 in fiscal year 2011-12.  The 
Legislature's proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2011-12 for legislative studies.  Whether the amount is 
sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the 
Legislature.
Resolve, To Study Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Committee: Government Oversight Committee
LR2152(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1