Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project To Save Lives and Support People with Substance Use Disorder in Washington County
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1005
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PERRY, MOORE, ALLEY, JAVNER, NEWELL, STOVER, TUELL

Legislative Document
No. 1005
H.P. 747
House of Representatives, February 26, 2019
Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project To Save Lives and Support 
People with Substance Use Disorder in Washington County
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERRY of Calais.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, JAVNER of Chester, NEWELL of the Passamaquoddy 
Tribe, STOVER of Boothbay, TUELL of East Machias.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, substance use disorder is a crisis in Washington County requiring a 
systems approach to combat the issue; and
Whereas, a pilot project in Washington County developed without the need for state 
General Fund money must be evaluated and provide data allowing for replication in other 
rural areas 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
Sec. 1.  Washington County Substance Use Disorder Pilot Project 
established.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
establish the Washington County Substance Use Disorder Pilot Project, referred to in this 
resolve as "the pilot project," to develop a systems approach to providing services in a 
rural area for residents of Washington County with substance use disorder through 
helping to coordinate service needs among organizations and providers to help bridge any 
gaps in services and ultimately assisting individuals in accessing treatment and recovery 
services when the individuals are ready.  The department shall work with Healthy Acadia 
as the lead agency in Washington County for developing the pilot project.  The 
department shall provide advice and assistance to Healthy Acadia in applying for federal 
grant funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to fund the pilot project, 
including any requests for proposals required by this resolve.
Sec. 2.  Telephone system.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and 
Human Services shall work with Healthy Acadia to establish a central coordinating 
telephone system located in Washington County no later than October 1, 2019.  The 
department may expand an existing hotline or use some other strategy to establish the 
telephone system.  The telephone system must be staffed at all times so that it is available 
at any time to any person in Washington County.  The telephone system must be made 
widely available to organizations in Washington County, including law enforcement, 
medical and emergency personnel, public officials, educational staff and members of the 
public, to connect those in need of substance use disorder treatment with counseling, 
referral services, peer services and recovery coaches and other related assistance.  
Telephone system staff answering the telephone calls must be qualified to provide 
counseling in addition to referral services.  The department and the coordinating council 
shall develop a system that coordinates the central coordinating telephone system with the 
State's 2-1-1 system to ensure maximum access for any person who calls the telephone 
system.  The coordinating council shall determine a method to collect data relating to 
calls received by the telephone system.
Sec. 3.  Washington County Coordinating Council.  Resolved:  That the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall work with Healthy Acadia to establish 
and support the Washington County Coordinating Council, referred to in this resolve as 
"the coordinating council," consisting of up to 15 members representing the community 
and organizations in Washington County and surrounding areas involved in substance use 
disorder prevention, treatment and recovery, including a representative from Healthy 
Acadia as lead agency; a representative from the Department of Health and Human 
Services; members of organizations representing health care, including primary care, 
emergency care, hospitals, mental health agencies and providers of substance use disorder 
treatment, including faith-based treatment; members of law enforcement, including 
county jails; organizations involved in education, prevention and advocacy; a person 
involved in the local business community; and persons in recovery living in the area.  The 
coordinating council shall choose a chair to preside over meetings, and it shall meet at 
least once every 2 months.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall work 
with Healthy Acadia to ensure that an executive assistant coordinates record keeping and 
meetings and other administrative tasks.  The coordinating council shall coordinate 
services in the pilot project, including access to the telephone system established pursuant 
to section 2 and accuracy of information relating to services, medication-assisted 
treatment, detoxification, residential and other treatment services, peer recovery and 
coaching services, education programs in schools, pain and chronic disease self-
management classes, jail treatment programs and other programs as well as tracking 
barriers to treatment and recovery, facilitating system improvements to reduce or 
eliminate identified barriers and implementing the recovery resource fund pursuant to 
section 4.
Sec. 4.  Recovery resource fund.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall assist the coordinating council with developing a recovery 
resource fund offering flexible funds as part of a wraparound continuum of supports and 
services to increase success for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.  The 
use of the fund is in accordance with the United States Department of Health and Human 
Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration requirements, 
with an individualized approach, building on family strengths and filling gaps in the 
system of care to purchase goods and services not otherwise available to the family.  The 
coordinating council shall implement and administer the fund, including recovery 
coaches or other similar persons in the process, and work with organizations and 
volunteers to secure additional funding.  Payments from the fund are disbursed directly to 
providers of services and not as cash payments to the individual in recovery.
Sec. 5.  Peer services and recovery coaching.  Resolved:  That the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall establish and support recovery coaching 
services to individuals with substance use disorder and to the families of those individuals 
in Washington County.  A coordinator chosen by the coordinating council shall assist in 
developing, training and establishing peer supports and recovery coaches who provide 
volunteer services around Washington County, including ensuring that peers and 
recovery coaches are connected to persons in treatment and recovery, including through 
the telephone system established pursuant to section 2, and that peers and recovery 
coaches are available at all times, and in keeping track of the system of peers and 
recovery coaches.  The department and the coordinator chosen by the coordinating 
council shall endeavor to provide assistance to volunteers such as recruiting, training, 
transportation assistance, facilitating connections to community organizations and other 
assistance.
Sec. 6.  Evaluation program.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and 
Human Services shall provide a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services no later than November 30, 2020 outlining the planning and 
implementation of the pilot project, services provided pursuant to the pilot project, details 
regarding funding expenditures, quantitative and qualitative evaluation, including data 
collected from the telephone system, and replicability of the pilot project.  The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters may report out legislation associated with the report to the First Regular Session 
of the 130th Legislature.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes a pilot project in Washington County to provide treatment 
and recovery services for people with substance use disorder.  The pilot project is 
established under the Department of Health and Human Services.  The department is 
required to work with Healthy Acadia to develop the pilot project.  The department is 
required to assist Healthy Acadia with seeking federal funding for the pilot project.  The 
pilot project requires the establishment of a central coordinating telephone system 
available to anyone in Washington County at any time to assist individuals with accessing 
services related to substance use disorder treatment and recovery.  Individuals receiving 
the phone calls must be qualified to provide counseling services to all callers in addition 
to providing referrals.  The pilot project establishes a coordinating council made up of 
representatives of the community and organizations in the area involved in the health and 
welfare of Washington County residents.  The council is responsible for providing a 
coordinated system of services for substance use disorder prevention, treatment and 
recovery and for developing and implementing a recovery resource fund to provide 
additional individualized services as part of a wraparound continuum of support and 
services.  It requires the department to report on the pilot project to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
no later than November 30, 2020.