An Act To Break the Generational Cycle of Domestic Violence
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1495
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: HEAD, BRAKEY, COREY, DENNO, DILLINGHAM, PARKER, PERKINS, PICKETT, STEARNS, VACHON
Amends: 22 MRSA §264

Legislative Document
No. 1495
H.P. 1028
House of Representatives, April 20, 2017
An Act To Break the Generational Cycle of Domestic Violence
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HEAD of Bethel.
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: COREY of Windham, DENNO of Cumberland, DILLINGHAM of Oxford, 
PARKER of South Berwick, PERKINS of Oakland, PICKETT of Dixfield, STEARNS of 
Guilford, VACHON of Scarborough.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §264 is enacted to read: 
§264.  Counseling and educational services for children affected by domestic 
violence 
1.  Referral.  A parent, guardian or relative of a child affected by domestic violence 
or a school, law enforcement agency, health care organization, health care provider or 
domestic violence resource center may refer a child affected by domestic violence to a 
nonprofit organization that provides counseling and educational services to children who 
are affected by domestic violence. 
2.  Nonprofit organizations that provide counseling and educational services.  A 
nonprofit organization that provides counseling and educational services to children who 
are affected by domestic violence and that receives referrals as described in subsection 1 
may apply to the department for funding for these services. 
3.  Department to divide State into 8 regions; funding.  The department shall 
divide the State into 8 regions for purposes of providing funding to nonprofit 
organizations under this section.  The department shall provide funding under this section 
to nonprofit organizations in all 8 regions of the State. 
4.  Funding criteria.  In determining which nonprofit organizations to fund under 
this section, the department shall consider, among other factors, how much money each 
nonprofit organization spends on administration versus direct services and shall give 
special consideration to nonprofit organizations that minimize administrative expenses 
and to nonprofit organizations in rural areas.  Services provided by a nonprofit 
organization funded under this section must be targeted to children who are 2 years of age 
or older and under 12 years of age. 
Sec. 2.  Report.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall report on the 
implementation of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 264 to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters no later than November 7, 2018. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a nonprofit organization that provides counseling and 
educational services to children who are affected by domestic violence and that receives 
referrals from a parent, guardian or relative of a child affected by domestic violence or a 
school, law enforcement agency, health care organization, health care provider or 
domestic violence resource center may apply to the Department of Health and Human 
Services for funding for these services.  The bill directs the department to divide the State 
into 8 regions for purposes of providing funding to these nonprofit organizations and to 
provide funding in all 8 regions.  In determining which nonprofit organizations to fund, 
the department must consider, among other factors, how much money each nonprofit 
organization spends on administration versus direct services and must give special 
consideration to nonprofit organizations that minimize administrative expenses and to 
nonprofit organizations in rural areas.  Services provided by the nonprofit organization 
must be targeted to children who are 2 years of age or older and under 12 years of age. 
The bill provides that the department must report on the implementation of these 
provisions to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
public safety matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than November 7, 2018.