An Act To Establish a Block Grant Program for Homemaker Services
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0665
Committee Amendment CA_A_H162 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" {t" to H.P. 446, L.D. 665, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish a Block Grant Program for Homemaker Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study Services Available on the Long-
term Care Continuum' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'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 Commission To Study Services Available on the Long-term Care 
Continuum is established to study the transitions between services and the accessibility, 
efficiency and sufficiency of services available to individuals in need of services for 
aging in place; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission To Study 
Services Available on the Long-term Care Continuum, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows: 
1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 446, L.D. 665 
2. Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature; and 
3. Eight members appointed by the Governor who possess expertise in the subject 
matter of the study as follows: 
A. The executive director of the long-term care ombudsman program described 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 5106, subsection II-C; 
B. A representative of a statewide association representing long-term care facilities; 
C. A representative of a statewide association representing consumer-directed long-
term care services; 
D. A representative of a statewide association representing area agencies on aging; 
E. A representative of a statewide association providing homemaker services; 
F. A representative of a statewide association providing home-based care; 
G. A representative ofa statewide association providing legal services to the elderly; 
and 
H. A representative of the Governor; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the ftrst-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 30 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 completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, 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. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall study the issues regarding 
the continuum of long-term care services in the community and in facilities. 
The 
commission shall: 
I. Review the programs and waivers currently available in the Department of Health 
and Human Services that serve the elderly and persons with disabilities in home-based 
and community-based settings and in nursing and residential facilities; 
2. Review recommendations from other studies, recent legislation and departmental 
initiatives; 
3. Examine trends, such as the growth of the aging popUlation, the needs of aging 
and disabled populations, the changing workforce and caregiver availability, to determine 
future needs in the long-term care continuum; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 446, L.D. 665 
4. Develop ways for individuals to move with dignity across the long-term care 
continuum as their needs change and in a manner that is sustainable for families and for 
MaineCare; 
5. Examine the role of staff who provide home care services to develop solutions, 
including possible consolidation of services, to improve service delivery; 
6. Examine the waiting lists for individuals requiring lower levels of care, including 
homemaker services and home-based care, to determine whether those waiting lists are 
contributing to increased numbers in residential and institutional care facilities for those 
individuals who would remain in their homes if homemaker services and home-based 
care were available; 
7. Examine the issues affecting the direct care workforce, including wages and 
benefits, qualifications, retention, morale and demographics; 
8. Develop strategies to support those individuals who provide free care to family 
members and friends; and 
9. Examine programs in other states to determine if there are models that could be 
used in this State to use MaineCare funds more efficiently; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffmg services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2,2015, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its fmdings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. 
The 
committee may report out legislation on the subject matter of the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This resolve replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, and establishes the 
Commission To Study Services Available on the Long-term Care Continuum. 
The 
commission is required to examine issues on the long-term care continuum from 
homemaker services and home-based care to residential and nursing facility care to 
determine whether these services are being provided efficiently and whether the provision 
of services allows for individuals to move through the long-term care continuum from 
one program to another as needs change; review recent recommendations, legislation and 
policy initiatives; determine future needs in the long-term care continuum; examine direct 
care workforce issues; and develop strategies to support family members providing free 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" A' to H.P. 446, L.D. 665 
care. The commission must submit its report, including suggested legislation, to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 2, 
2015. The committee may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 
127th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/08115 
;Wac 
LD665 
LR 1535(02) 
An Act To Establish a Block Grant Program for Homemaker Services 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment .~. ell -/ ~i) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $2,750 in fiscal year 2015-16. The Legislature'S 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 for legislative studies. Whether that amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. If 
more than 4 meetings are held during the interim the estimated cost for each additional meeting is projected to be 
$625 per meeting for legislative per diem and expenses. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the 
study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt the changes in this bill are expected to 
be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1535(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1