An Act To Enhance and Increase the Availability of Mental Health Providers in Maine (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1879
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: HANDY, MILLETT, BEEBE-CENTER, COOPER, FARNSWORTH, PERRY, TALBOT ROSS, BELLOWS

Legislative Document
No. 1879
H.P. 1311
House of Representatives, March 22, 2018
An Act To Enhance and Increase the Availability of Mental Health 
Providers in Maine
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HANDY of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland and
Representatives: BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, COOPER of Yarmouth, FARNSWORTH of 
Portland, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, PERRY of Calais, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, 
Senator: BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, there is an acute shortage of mental health providers in the State and 
pressing mental health needs that affect the well-being and safety of the populace; and
Whereas, mental health providers, like many professionals, incur student debt and 
have difficulty paying student loans; 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.  20-A MRSA c. 441 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 441
MAINE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
§12941.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1.  Authority.  "Authority" means the Finance Authority of Maine.
2.  Fund.  "Fund" means the Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Fund 
established in section 12943.
3.  Mental health provider.  "Mental health provider" means an individual who 
possesses, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from a qualified institution of higher 
education and who practices in the State as:
A.  A licensed social worker;
B.  A licensed clinical social worker;
C.  A licensed master social worker;
D.  A licensed professional counselor, conditional; or
E.  A licensed professional counselor.
4.  Program.  "Program" means the Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment 
Program established in section 12942.
5.  Qualified institution of higher education.  "Qualified institution of higher 
education" means an accredited institution of higher education eligible to receive federal 
assistance under a federal student assistance program authorized under the federal Higher 
Education Act of 1965, Title IV.
§12942.  Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Program
1.  Establishment.  The Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Program is 
established to increase the number of mental health providers practicing in underserved 
areas of the State.  The authority shall administer the program and the fund.
2.  Eligibility.  To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant must:
A.  Be a mental health provider;
B.  Have a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree related to the applicant's practice 
from a qualified institution of higher education;
C.  Possess an outstanding student loan relating to the degree under paragraph B;
D.  Practice in an underserved practice area as defined in rule, including but not 
limited to the practice of mental health care or social work:
(1)  In a public or private child welfare or family service agency;
(2)  In a public or private educational institution, kindergarten to grade 12;
(3)  In a public or private hospital;
(4)  In a public interest law service;
(5)  In a public child care facility;
(6)  In a public service for individuals with disabilities;
(7)  In a public service for the elderly;
(8)  In a public service for veterans; or
(9) At an organization exempt from taxation under the United States Internal 
Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3);
E.  Submit an application to the authority, which must include but is not limited to 
information concerning academic performance, awards and special honors and 
community involvement; and
F.  Sign a statement of intent to work as a mental health provider in an underserved 
practice area in the State for a minimum of 5 years after acceptance into the program 
in a form acceptable to the authority.
3.  Maximum amount; participants.  The authority may annually accept up to 3 
participants from the applications submitted in accordance with subsection 2.  The 
maximum amount available to each participant is $5,000 per year for a period of up to 5 
years.
§12943.  Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Fund
The Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Fund is created as a 
nonlapsing, interest-earning, revolving fund to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
The authority may receive, invest and expend on behalf of the fund money from gifts, 
grants, bequests and donations in addition to money appropriated or allocated by the State 
and any federal funds received by the State for the benefit of mental health providers who 
have outstanding student loans. Money received by the authority on behalf of the fund 
must be used for the purposes of this chapter. The fund must be maintained and 
administered by the authority. Any unexpended balance in the fund carries forward for 
continued use under this chapter.
Costs and expenses of maintaining, servicing and administering the fund and of 
administering the program may be paid out of amounts in the fund.
§12944.  Rules
The authority may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE
Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Fund
Initiative:  Provides appropriations for the repayment of student loans for certain mental 
health providers who practice in underserved practice areas and to pay the administrative 
costs of the fund.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes and provides funding for the Maine Mental Health Providers 
Loan Repayment Program to be administered by the Finance Authority of Maine. Under 
the program, mental health providers may have portions of their student loans repaid 
annually for up to 5 years, as long as the participants meet certain criteria, including 
agreeing to practice in an underserved practice area for at least 5 years after acceptance 
into the program.
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$1,000,000
$1,000,000