An Act To Improve the Child Welfare System
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1923
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: HAMPER

Legislative Document
No. 1923
S.P. 758
In Senate, August 23, 2018
An Act To Improve the Child Welfare System
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on August 22, 2018.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HAMPER of Oxford.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, maintaining a sufficient number of qualified foster homes provides a 
critical safety net for vulnerable children; and
Whereas, recruitment and retention of highly qualified child welfare staff will allow 
for more timely and thorough investigations of allegations of abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, a new comprehensive child welfare information system will make more 
information available in a timely manner, which will allow for better outcomes for 
children; and
Whereas, this legislation provides funding necessary to enhance the child welfare 
system and services available to children in the care of the State; 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.  Rate increase for foster homes.  The daily rates for foster homes must 
be increased as follows:  Unlicensed Homes must be increased from $10.00 to $18.50, 
Level A Licensed Homes must be increased from $16.50 to $25.00, Level B Licensed 
Homes must be increased from $26.25 to $35.00, Level C Licensed Homes must be 
increased from $39.38 to $45.00, Level D Licensed Homes must be increased from 
$52.50 to $60.00, Level E Licensed Homes must be increased from $65.62 to $75.00 and 
Medical Licensed Homes must be increased from $60.00 to $70.00. 
Sec. 2.  New job classification.  The Department of Administrative and Financial 
Services, Bureau of Human Resources and the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall work together to develop a new job classification for the Child Welfare 
Investigator position.  This classification must consider relevant education and training in 
investigative practice in lieu of the possession of a license in social work.  This education 
and training must be obtained from service and experience in law enforcement or other 
similar fields.
Sec. 3.  Development of a new comprehensive child welfare information 
system.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a needs analysis 
for its comprehensive child welfare information system and review possible solutions to 
meet those needs. The Department of Health and Human Services shall purchase or 
develop a new comprehensive child welfare information system.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
IV-E Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0137
Initiative:  Provides funding for increased foster home reimbursement rates to increase 
recruitment and retention of foster families in this State.
Office of Child and Family Services - District 0452
Initiative:  Provides increased funding for the creation of 16 Human Services Casework 
Supervisor positions within the Office of Child and Family Services, child protective 
services to increase coaching and oversight of child protective staff.
Office of Child and Family Services - District 0452
Initiative:  Provides funding for the creation of 2 Regional Associate Director for Child 
Welfare positions.
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$463,791
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$463,791
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$695,686
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$0
$695,686
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
0.000
16.000
Personal Services
$0
$922,441
All Other
$0
$82,472
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$1,004,913
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$202,488
All Other
$0
$25,418
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$227,906
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
0.000
2.000
Personal Services
$0
$193,334
Office of Child and Family Services - District 0452
Initiative:  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 7065, provides 
funding for the recruitment and retention of employees in Child Protective Services 
Caseworker positions, Child Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions, Child 
Protective Services Assistant Program Administrator positions and Child Protective 
Services Program Administrator positions via a $5 per wage-hour stipend payment.
Office of Child and Family Services - District 0452
Initiative:  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 7065, provides 
funding for the recruitment and retention of employees in Child Protective Services 
Caseworker positions, Child Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions, Child 
Protective Services Assistant Program Administrator positions and Child Protective 
Services Program Administrator positions via a $1 per wage-hour stipend payment for 
employees holding or obtaining a relevant master's degree.
All Other
$0
$10,296
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$203,630
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$42,439
All Other
$0
$2,260
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$44,699
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$3,648,877
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$3,648,877
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$781,523
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$781,523
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$112,570
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$112,570
State-funded Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0139
Initiative:  Provides funding for increased foster home reimbursement rates to increase 
recruitment and retention of foster families in this State.
State-funded Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0139
Initiative:  Provides increased funding for procurement of a pilot program for child 
welfare services to support children in the State's custody through supportive visitation, 
which will allow for the supervision of court-ordered visitation with relatives of the 
children and will provide assessment and evaluation of parental capacity as it relates to 
the parent's ability to safely care for the child.
State-funded Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0139
Initiative:  Provides increased funding for procurement of child welfare services to 
support children in the State's custody through clinical support and guidance of child 
welfare casework practice.  This funding will allow each district office to procure a 
clinician to aid the district in clinical consultation within child welfare cases, in training 
to increase staff knowledge of mental health and behavioral needs of children in the 
State's custody and in consultation within child welfare cases on parental capacity.  In 
addition, this increase in funding will allow for procurement of clinical services to 
support each district office to evaluate staff functioning and provide debriefing for critical 
incidents.
State-funded Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0139
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2017-18
2018-19
Personal Services
$0
$24,710
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$24,710
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$3,104,315
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$3,104,315
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$2,250,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$2,250,000
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$880,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$880,000
Initiative:  Provides increased funding for the development of a new comprehensive child 
welfare information system.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides additional funding to enhance the child welfare system and services 
available to children in the care of the State.  This bill also directs the Department of 
Health and Human Services to conduct a needs analysis for its comprehensive child 
welfare information system, review possible solutions to meet those needs and purchase 
or develop a new system.  It also provides funding for the development of a new 
comprehensive child welfare information system.
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$8,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$8,000,000
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2017-18
2018-19
GENERAL FUND
$0
$19,668,096
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
$0
$695,686
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$0
$1,078,838
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0
$21,442,620