An Act To Reduce Morbidity and Mortality Related to Injected Drugs
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1552
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: VACHON, HASKELL, DUNPHY, GATTINE, HEAD, MALABY, REED, SANBORN, TURNER, WARD
Amends: 22 MRSA §1341

Legislative Document 
No. 1552 
H.P. 1057 
House of Representatives, January 12, 2016 
An Act To Reduce Morbidity and Mortality Related to Injected 
Drugs 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative VACHON of Scarborough. 
Cosponsored by Senator HASKELL of Cumberland and 
Representatives: DUNPHY of Embden, GATTINE of Westbrook, HEAD of Bethel, 
MALABY of Hancock, REED of Carmel, SANBORN of Gorham, TURNER of Burlington, 
WARD of Dedham. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1341, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4.  Funding.  This subsection governs funding for hypodermic apparatus exchange 
programs certified pursuant to this section. 
A.  The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall allocate any funds 
appropriated for hypodermic apparatus exchange programs among programs based on 
rates of intravenous drug use and negative health outcomes related to drug use in the 
geographic area surrounding a program and the amount of services historically 
provided by the program, except that the center may award funds through a 
competitive grant process in order to facilitate the operation of programs in counties 
without programs. 
B.  Unless the use of funds to support a hypodermic apparatus exchange program is 
prohibited by the original funding source, the department may not prohibit funds it 
awards to an entity involved in HIV, viral hepatitis and substance abuse issues from 
being used to support a hypodermic apparatus exchange program as long as the 
services the program provides can reasonably be expected to contribute to the desired 
result identified when the funding is first made available. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143 
Initiative:  Appropriates funds for existing hypodermic apparatus exchange programs 
certified by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143 
Initiative:  Appropriates funds to facilitate the growth of new hypodermic apparatus 
exchange programs certified by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 
counties without a program. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$0
$50,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$50,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$0
$25,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$25,000
SUMMARY 
This bill provides funding for existing and new hypodermic apparatus exchange 
programs certified by the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention.  The center must allocate funds appropriated for existing 
hypodermic apparatus exchange programs among programs based on rates of intravenous 
drug use and negative health outcomes related to drug use in the geographic area 
surrounding a program and the amount of services historically provided by the program, 
except that funds awarded in order to facilitate the operation of programs in counties 
without a program may be awarded through a competitive grant process.  It also provides 
that, unless the use of funds to support a hypodermic apparatus exchange program is 
prohibited by the original funding source, the department may not prohibit funds it 
awards to an entity involved in HIV, viral hepatitis and substance abuse issues from being 
used to support a hypodermic apparatus exchange program as long as the services the 
program provides can reasonably be expected to contribute to the desired result identified 
when the funding is first made available. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2015-16
2016-17
GENERAL FUND 
$0
$75,000
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$0
$75,000