An Act To Create a Centralized Authority To Combat Opiate Addiction in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0105
Committee Amendment CA_A_H645 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,4,, to H.P. 73, L.D. 105, Bill, "An Act To Create 
a Centralized Authority To Combat Opiate Addiction in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
1Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 441 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER441 
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS CABINET 
§19151. Substance Use Disorders Cabinet 
1. Establishment. The Substance Use Disorders Cabinet, referred to in this chapter 
as 
11the cabinet, 
is established to promote interdepartmental collaboration on policy 
development and program implementation and to support the delivery of services for 
prevention. harm reduction and treatment of substance use disorders for citizens of the 
State that are planned, managed and delivered in an integrated manner. 
2. Membership. The cabinet consists of the following members: 
A. The Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner
1s designee: 
B. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner1s designee; 
C. 
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner1s 
designee; 
D. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner1s designee: 
E. The Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner
1s designee: 
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COMMITTEEAMENDMENT'./J"toH.P. 73,L.D.105 
F. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or the Chief Justice's designee: 
and 
G. At the discretion of the Governor, a member of the public, appointed by the 
Governor. 
3. Chair. The Governor shall appoint one of the members to serve as chair of the 
cabinet. The term of the chair is 2 years. 
§19152. Duties of the cabinet 
Within existing resources. the cabinet shall collaborate to create, manage and 
promote coordinated policies. programs and service delivery systems that address 
prevention, harm reduction and treatment of substance use disorders consistent with the 
purposes of this chapter. To accomplish these purposes. the cabinet shall: 
1. Regional cabinets. Appoint regional cabinets to ensure that the purposes of this 
chapter are implemented at the regional and local levels: 
2. Subcommittees. Appoint subcommittees, which may include members from any 
public or private agency. advisory committee or any citizen, who has appropriate interest 
and expertise, as may be necessary to carry out the work of the cabinet; 
3. Coordinate funding; collaboration. Coordinate funding and budgets among the 
departments represented in the cabinet related to services for prevention, harm reduction 
and treatment of substance use disorders in order to carry out the purpose of this chapter. 
collaborate to share funding resources and remove barriers between departments: 
4. Planning and policy development. Conduct long-term planning and policy 
development to create a more effective public and private service delivery system: 
5. Service delivery. Coordinate the delivery of residential and community-based 
services for prevention. harm reduction and treatment of substance use disorders among 
the departments represented in the cabinet; 
6. Assessment of resources. Assess resource capacity and resource allocation: 
7. Policy and program review. Improve policies and programs through the review 
of specific case examples; and 
8. 
Communication. 
Broadly communicate the work of the cabinet to the 
departments represented in the cabinet and to the public. 
§19153. Implementation and oversight 
Within existing resources. the cabinet shall initiate, implement and oversee programs, 
policies and services consistent with the purposes of this chapter. which may include but 
are not limited to: 
1. Community resources. Supporting a collaborative effort between communities 
and State Government in order to effectively address the problem of substance use 
7 
disorders facing the State's citizens by organizing and combining the resources of State 
Government with resources and leadership at the community level; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT".//, to H.P. 73, L.D. 105 
2. 
Effectiveness indicators. 
Identifying indicators to measure urol!l'ess in 
prevention. harm reduction and treatment of substance use disorders to be used by policy 
makers at the state and local levels; 
3. Reducing overdose. Reducing the incidence of drug overdose among citizens of 
the State and improving access to appropriate services for prevention. harm reduction and 
treatment of substance use disorders: 
4. Access to information and referral. Ensuring easy access to information and 
referral for services for treatment of substance use disorders; 
5. Service coordination and access. Coordinating services for prevention. harm 
reduction and treatment of substance use disorders as an integrated whole and facilitating 
access to services; and 
6. Pooled funds. Providing services for prevention. harm reduction and treatment of 
substance use disorders using appropriate funds pooled from each department represented 
in the cabinet. 
§19154. Funds 
The cabinet is authorized to solicit. receive and pool funds from the Federal 
Government. any political subdivision of the State or any individual. foundation or 
corporation and may expend those funds for purposes that are consistent with this 
chapter. 
§19155. Annual report 
No later than January 31st of each year, the cabinet shall. within existing resources. 
provide an annual report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs. criminal justice and public safety 
matters. education and cultural affairs. health and human services matters. judiciary 
matters. labor matters and state and local government matters. The cabinet shall make the 
report available to the public on the Department of Health and Human Services' publicly 
accessible website. 
§19156. Repeal 
This chapter is repealed June 30. 2022. 
Sec. 2. Initial chair of the cabinet. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 19151, 
subsection 3, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the commissioner's 
designee, is the chair of the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet for the first 2-year term.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. The amendment establishes 
the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet for a time-limited period, with a sunset date of June 
30, 2022. The cabinet consists of the commissioners of Corrections, Education, Health 
and Human Services, Labor and Public Safety; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court; and, at the discretion of the Governor, one member of the public. The initial chair 
of the cabinet is the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,{1:. to H.P. 73, L.D. 105 
'.1 OF S designee. The cabinet is established to promote interdepartmental collaboration on 
substance use disorders policy development, program implementation and service 
delivery in an integrated manner. The duties of the cabinet include coordinating funding, 
conducting long-term planning and policy development, coordinating service delivery, 
assessing resource capacity, reviewing programs and policies and communicating the 
work of the cabinet. The cabinet is authorized to solicit, receive and pool funds from the 
Federal Government, subdivisions of the State or individuals, foundations or 
corporations. The cabinet is required to submit an annual report to the joint standing 
committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial 
affairs, criminal justice and public safety matters, education and cultural affairs, health 
and human services matters, judiciary matters, labor matters and state and local 
government matters and to make the report available to the public. The cabinet is 
required to carry out its duties within existing resources. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 03/02il 8 :::Wac 
LD 105 
LR 524(02) 
An Act To Create a Centralized Authority To Combat Opiate Addiction in Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment/f• (ii ,t((sj 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill establishes the Substance Use Disorders Cabinet. State participation in cabinet activities includes the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education, the 
Department of Labor, the Depa1iment of Public Safety and the Judicial Branch. It is expected that some duties 
required in the bill, such as organizing and combining resources, improving access to appropriate services, 
coordinating services and facilitating services will require additional fi.mding. The bill requires funds be pooled from 
each department represented in the cabinet and requires that duties be canied out within existing budgeted resources. 
The cabinet is authorized to solicit and receive funds from various sources. Because no funding was provided in the 
bill, the impact on other programs and services cannot be detennined. 
LR0524(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1