An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Substance Abuse Services Commission with Regard to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1840
Committee: Health and Human Services
Amends: 22 MRSA §7249

Legislative Document 
No. 1840 
S.P. 743 
In Senate, March 21, 2014 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Substance Abuse 
Services Commission with Regard to the Controlled Substances 
Prescription Monitoring Program 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 353. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
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 Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program is an 
important tool for prescribers of controlled substances to use to prevent and detect 
prescription drug misuse and diversion and improve patient care through better 
coordination of care; and 
Whereas, timely enrollment in the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring 
Program and ongoing education of prescribers to use the program are fundamental to its 
success; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §7249, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 477, Pt. K, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 2.  Online applications and renewals for prescribers of controlled 
substances; electronic coding; access for prescribers and their delegates.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services, Controlled Substances Prescription 
Monitoring Program, referred to in this section as "the program," shall update the 
enrollment mechanism for prescribers of controlled substances who are registering with 
the program or are renewing registration.  The update must enable prescribers to be 
enrolled in the program automatically when applying for or renewing a professional 
license and must establish the electronic code necessary to update the program's computer 
system accordingly.  The update must allow a federal Drug Enforcement Administration 
number to be entered during the online application or renewal process and must notify an 
applicant that in providing the federal number the applicant is automatically registered 
with the program.  The program shall update its computer system to allow subaccount 
holders and delegated account holders access to the database using the online application 
process.  The program shall update its computer system to enable licensing data to be 
extracted on a scheduled basis from the agency licensing management system and 
securely transferred to the program in order to enroll in the program unregistered 
licensees who have federal Drug Enforcement Administration numbers and e-mail 
addresses. 
Sec. 3.  Outside funding.  If the Department of Health and Human Services finds 
that sufficient funding to fund the update under section 2 is not available to the 
department for that purpose, the department may seek and may accept outside funding 
necessary to complete the update under section 2. 
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS) 
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 0679 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for the Controlled Substances Prescription 
Monitoring Program for computer system development costs including funds for system 
code for online application and renewal registration and to enable subaccount holders and 
delegated account holders access to the program database. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill implements the recommendations of the Substance Abuse Services 
Commission with regard to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program 
pursuant to Resolve 2013, chapter 25.  The bill is the unanimous report of the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and is reported out of committee 
pursuant to Joint Rule 353.  The bill repeals provisions of the Controlled Substances 
Prescription Monitoring Program that pertain to specific participation requirements.  It 
appropriates funding to enable the Department of Health and Human Services to update 
the monitoring program's online enrollment mechanism for prescribers of controlled 
substances and directs the department to take action to enable those prescribers to renew 
professional applications online.  It appropriates funding to implement electronic coding 
necessary to update the monitoring program's computer system.  The bill directs the 
Department of Health and Human Services to seek outside funding if funding is 
insufficient to complete the update. 
GENERAL FUND 
2013-14
2014-15
All Other 
$0
$16,150
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$16,150
Approved: 03/19/14
LD     
LR 2852(01)
FY 2013-14
FY 2014-15
Projections 
FY 2015-16
Projections 
FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund
$0
$16,150
$0
$0
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund
$0
$16,150
$0
$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to provide the required information can 
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
This bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation of $16,150 in fiscal year 2014-15 for the Department of 
Health and Human Services for computer programming costs related to the Controlled Substances Prescription 
Monitoring Program.
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Substance Abuse Services Commission with 
Regard to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Committee: Health and Human Services
LR2852(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1