An Act To Combat Drug Addiction through Enforcement, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1537
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: THIBODEAU, EVES, ALFOND, BURNS, CUSHING, CYRWAY, GERZOFSKY, HASKELL, HILL, KATZ, LANGLEY, VALENTINO, VOLK, WOODSOME, CHIPMAN, DION, EVANGELOS, FOWLE, FREY, GATTINE, GIDEON, MAKER, POULIOT, ROTUNDO, STEARNS, TUELL

Legislative Document 
No. 1537 
S.P. 599 
In Senate, January 4, 2016 
An Act To Combat Drug Addiction through Enforcement, 
Prevention, Treatment and Recovery 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 4, 2016.  Referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and Financial Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President THIBODEAU of Waldo. 
Cosponsored by Speaker EVES of North Berwick and 
Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, BURNS of Washington, CUSHING of Penobscot, 
CYRWAY of Kennebec, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, HASKELL of Cumberland, HILL of 
York, KATZ of Kennebec, LANGLEY of Hancock, VALENTINO of York, VOLK of 
Cumberland, WOODSOME of York, Representatives: CHIPMAN of Portland, DION of 
Portland, EVANGELOS of Friendship, FOWLE of Vassalboro, FREY of Bangor, GATTINE 
of Westbrook, GIDEON of Freeport, MAKER of Calais, McCABE of Skowhegan, POULIOT 
of Augusta, ROTUNDO of Lewiston, STEARNS of Guilford, TUELL of East Machias. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, opiate abuse and heroin use have been steadily increasing in Maine and 
are reaching epidemic proportions; and 
Whereas, a comprehensive approach that embraces initiatives focused on law 
enforcement, prevention, treatment and recovery is immediately necessary; 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: 
PART A 
Sec. A-1.  Report.  The Commissioner of Public Safety shall appear periodically 
before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs to report on 
the implementation of this Part. 
Sec. A-2.  Funds may not be transferred.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 1585 or any other provision of law, funding provided in this Part 
may not be transferred to any other appropriation or subdivision of an appropriation made 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. A-3.  Funds may not lapse.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 1589 or any other provision of law, any unencumbered balance of 
appropriations contained in this Part remaining at the end of each fiscal year may not 
lapse but must be carried forward to be used for the same purposes. 
Sec. A-4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF 
Drug Enforcement Agency  0388 
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding for 10 investigative agents. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$800,000
$1,600,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$800,000
$1,600,000
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  Law enforcement and county jail initiatives regarding 
treatment, recovery and support services.  The Department of the Attorney 
General shall administer grants to local law enforcement agencies and county jails located 
in geographically diverse communities throughout the State to fund projects designed 
solely to facilitate pathways to community-based treatment, recovery and support 
services. The department shall provide a report by January 15, 2017 to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters regarding 
the status of the projects, including the cost-effectiveness of the projects, whether the 
projects resulted in reductions in drug use and recidivism and recommendations for the 
modification of the projects.  
Sec. B-2.  Funds may not be transferred.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 1585 or any other provision of law, funding provided in this Part 
may not be transferred to any other appropriation or subdivision of an appropriation made 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. B-3.  Funds may not lapse.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 1589 or any other provision of law, any unencumbered balance of 
appropriations contained in this Part remaining at the end of each fiscal year may not 
lapse but must be carried forward to be used for the same purposes. 
Sec. B-4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF 
Administration - Attorney General  0310 
Initiative:  Provides funds for grants to local law enforcement entities and county jails for 
the establishment of projects designed to facilitate pathways to treatment, recovery and 
support services through law enforcement initiatives. 
PART C 
Sec. C-1.  Detoxification center.  The Department of Health and Human Services 
shall provide grants to a substance abuse treatment entity to develop and operate a 10-bed 
detoxification center that provides a social detoxification program in an organized 
residential nonmedical setting delivered by appropriately trained staff that provide safe 
24-hour monitoring, observation and support in a supervised environment for a client to 
achieve initial recovery from the effects of alcohol or another drug. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$50,000
$50,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$50,000
$50,000
1.  The substance abuse treatment entity must: 
A.  Be located in the greater Bangor area; 
B.  Specialize in treating substance abuse and mental health disorders; and 
C.  Have an established history of providing substance abuse treatment and running 
residential programs in the region. 
2.  At least 40% of the occupancy in the detoxification center established under this 
section must be made available to individuals who do not have MaineCare coverage or 
health insurance coverage for detoxification treatment. 
3.  No later than June 30, 2016 the department shall begin distributing the funds 
appropriated in section 5. 
Sec. C-2.  Report.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall appear 
periodically before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs 
to report on the implementation of this Part. 
Sec. C-3.  Funds may not be transferred.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 1585 or any other provision of law, funding provided in this Part 
may not be transferred to any other appropriation or subdivision of an appropriation made 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. C-4.  Funds may not lapse.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 1589 or any other provision of law, any unencumbered balance of 
appropriations contained in this Part remaining at the end of each fiscal year may not 
lapse but must be carried forward to be used for the same purposes. 
Sec. C-5.  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 development of a detoxification center in 
the greater Bangor area in accordance with this Part. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS) 
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services  0679 
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funding for the operation of a detoxification center in the 
greater Bangor area in accordance with this Part. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$200,000
$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$200,000
$0
PART D 
Sec. D-1.  Peer support recovery centers; education and coordination of 
services.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide grant funds in 
the amount of $700,000 to the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs to: 
1.  Establish in underserved areas of the State and expand peer support recovery 
centers designed to assist individuals with substance abuse issues to avoid relapse; 
2.  Coordinate the efforts of law enforcement, treatment and recovery programs; and 
3.  Facilitate the delivery of effective prevention and education programming in 
schools and communities. 
Sec. D-2.  Report.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall appear 
periodically before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs 
to report on the implementation of this Part. 
Sec. D-3.  Funds may not be transferred.   Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 1585 or any other provision of law, funding provided in this Part 
may not be transferred to any other appropriation or subdivision of an appropriation made 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. D-4.  Funds may not lapse.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 1589 or any other provision of law, any unencumbered balance of 
appropriations contained in this Part remaining at the end of each fiscal year may not 
lapse but must be carried forward to be used for the same purposes. 
Sec. D-5.  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 ongoing funding for annual grants to the Maine Association of 
Substance Abuse Programs for the establishment and expansion of peer support recovery 
centers and the coordination and provision of substance abuse prevention and education 
in schools and communities. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$0
$700,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$700,000
PART E 
Sec. E-1.  Funds may not be transferred.   Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 1585 or any other provision of law, funding provided in this Part 
may not be transferred to any other appropriation or subdivision of an appropriation made 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. E-2.  Funds may not lapse.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 1589 or any other provision of law, any unencumbered balance of 
appropriations contained in this Part remaining at the end of each fiscal year may not 
lapse but must be carried forward to be used for the same purposes. 
Sec. E-3.  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 funding to increase substance abuse residential treatment for the 
uninsured. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS) 
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services  0679 
Initiative:  Provides funding to increase substance abuse outpatient services for the 
uninsured. 
PART F 
Sec. F-1.  Transfer of funds.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
State Controller shall transfer to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund $725,000 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$200,000
$500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$200,000
$500,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$200,000
$400,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$200,000
$400,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$75,000
$125,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$75,000
$125,000
no later than June 30, 2016 and $1,775,000 no later than June 30, 2017 from the funds 
received pursuant to the court order in State of Maine v. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 
and Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, Kennebec County Superior Court Docket 
No. BCD-CV-14-49. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
The purpose of this bill is to address drug addiction by increasing the number of drug 
enforcement agents and by increasing the availability of prevention, treatment and 
recovery programs. 
1.  Part A provides ongoing funding for 10 investigative agents in the Department of 
Public Safety, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. 
2.  Part B directs the Department of the Attorney General to administer grants to local 
law enforcement agencies and county jails located in geographically diverse communities 
throughout the State to fund projects designed solely to facilitate pathways to community-
based treatment, recovery and support services. 
3.  Part C directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants to a 
substance abuse treatment entity to develop and operate a 10-bed social detoxification 
center located in the greater Bangor area. 
4.  Part D provides ongoing funding for annual grants to the Maine Association of 
Substance Abuse Programs for the establishment and expansion of peer support recovery 
centers and the coordination and provision of substance abuse prevention and education 
in schools and communities. 
5.  Part E provides funding to increase substance abuse residential treatment and 
substance abuse outpatient services for the uninsured. 
6.  Part F transfers $725,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $1,775,000 in fiscal year 
2016-17 from the funds received pursuant to the court order in State of Maine v. 
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, Kennebec 
County Superior Court Docket No. BCD-CV-14-49, to the unappropriated surplus of the 
General Fund.