An Act To Address Employee Recruitment and Retention Issues at State Mental Health Institutions
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1645
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: KATZ, DOORE, GRATWICK, HASKELL, FOWLE, FREY, GATTINE, GRANT, MALABY, POULIOT

Legislative Document 
No. 1645 
S.P. 670 
In Senate, March 10, 2016 
An Act To Address Employee Recruitment and Retention Issues at 
State Mental Health Institutions 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator KATZ of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative DOORE of Augusta and 
Senators: GRATWICK of Penobscot, HASKELL of Cumberland, Representatives: FOWLE of 
Vassalboro, FREY of Bangor, GATTINE of Westbrook, GRANT of Gardiner, MALABY of 
Hancock, POULIOT of Augusta. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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 state mental health institutions are an integral part of mental health 
care in the State; and 
Whereas, employee recruitment and retention is important to the stability of the 
state mental health institutions; and 
Whereas, this legislation provides for an increase in wages for certain personnel at 
the state mental health institutions beginning July 1, 2016; and 
Whereas, the 90-day period will not expire until after July 1, 2016; 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.  Department to increase wages at state mental health institutions.  
The Department of Health and Human Services shall increase wages for select personnel 
at the state mental health institutions.  Wages must be increased by $2 per hour for all 
Acuity Specialist positions, Licensed Practical Nurse positions, Mental Health Worker I 
positions, Mental Health Worker II positions and Mental Health Worker III positions. 
Wages must be increased by $4 per hour for all Nurse I positions, Hospital Nurse II 
positions, Hospital Nurse III positions, Hospital Nurse IV positions, Psychologist III 
positions and Psychologist IV positions. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS) 
Disproportionate Share - Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center 0734 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $4 per hour for all Nurse I positions, 
Hospital Nurse II positions, Hospital Nurse III positions, Hospital Nurse IV positions, 
Psychologist III positions and Psychologist IV positions at the state mental health 
institutions. 
Disproportionate Share - Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center 0734 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$177,815
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$177,815
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $2 per hour for all Acuity Specialist 
positions, Licensed Practical Nurse positions, Mental Health Worker I positions, Mental 
Health Worker II positions and Mental Health Worker III positions at the state mental 
health institutions. 
Disproportionate Share - Riverview Psychiatric Center 0733 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $2 per hour for all Acuity Specialist 
positions, Licensed Practical Nurse positions, Mental Health Worker I positions, Mental 
Health Worker II positions and Mental Health Worker III positions at the state mental 
health institutions. 
Disproportionate Share - Riverview Psychiatric Center 0733 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $4 per hour for all Nurse I positions, 
Hospital Nurse II positions, Hospital Nurse III positions, Hospital Nurse IV positions, 
Psychologist III positions and Psychologist IV positions at the state mental health 
institutions. 
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center 0120 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $4 per hour for all Nurse I positions, 
Hospital Nurse II positions, Hospital Nurse III positions, Hospital Nurse IV positions, 
Psychologist III positions and Psychologist IV positions at the state mental health 
institutions. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$57,790
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$57,790
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$212,785
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$212,785
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$246,570
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$246,570
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$321,385
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center 0120 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $2 per hour for all Acuity Specialist 
positions, Licensed Practical Nurse positions, Mental Health Worker I positions, Mental 
Health Worker II positions and Mental Health Worker III positions at the state mental 
health institutions. 
Riverview Psychiatric Center 0105 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $4 per hour for all Nurse I positions, 
Hospital Nurse II positions, Hospital Nurse III positions, Hospital Nurse IV positions, 
Psychologist III positions and Psychologist IV positions at the state mental health 
institutions. 
Riverview Psychiatric Center 0105 
Initiative: Provides funds to increase wages by $2 per hour for all Acuity Specialist 
positions, Licensed Practical Nurse positions, Mental Health Worker I positions, Mental 
Health Worker II positions and Mental Health Worker III positions at the state mental 
health institutions. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0
$321,385
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$104,450
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0
$104,450
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$445,654
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0
$445,654
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2015-16
2016-17
Personal Services 
$0
$384,591
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0
$384,591
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY BDS) 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2015-16
2016-17
GENERAL FUND 
$0
$694,960
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect July 1, 2016. 
SUMMARY 
This bill increases wages for select personnel at the state mental health institutions. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
$0
$1,256,080
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$0
$1,951,040