Resolve, To Mitigate the Increasing Waiting List for Services under the MaineCare Section 21 Waiver Program
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1450
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: O'CONNOR, BELLOWS, BLIER, HYMANSON, JAVNER, PRESCOTT, RYKERSON, SAMPSON, FOLEY, LAWRENCE

Legislative Document
No. 1450
H.P. 1062
House of Representatives, April 2, 2019
Resolve, To Mitigate the Increasing Waiting List for Services under 
the MaineCare Section 21 Waiver Program
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative O'CONNOR of Berwick.
Cosponsored by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec and
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, HYMANSON of York, JAVNER of Chester, PRESCOTT 
of Waterboro, RYKERSON of Kittery, SAMPSON of Alfred, Senators: FOLEY of York, 
LAWRENCE of York.
Sec. 1.  Pilot project.  Resolved:  That, beginning January 1, 2020 and ending 
December 1, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a pilot 
project to provide housing to adults with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum 
disorder who are on the waiting list for home and community-based benefits provided 
under the department's rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 
21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism 
Spectrum Disorder.  The pilot project must be modeled on a program operated in the 
Town of Kittery by the nonprofit corporation A House for ME.  The pilot project must 
provide housing to 2 to 3 residents in each home and, with the assistance of community 
volunteers, assist those residents in becoming active, contributing members of the 
community.  Housing provided under the pilot project must be staffed by a volunteer 
resident companion who lives at the house rent-free and is employed outside of the house.
Sec. 2.  Funding.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services 
may receive funds from any public or private source for the purposes for which the pilot 
project under section 1 has been established.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That, by December 1, 2021, the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall submit a written report on the results of the pilot project under 
section 1, including findings and recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters.  The joint 
standing committee may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 130th 
Legislature relating to the subject matter of the report.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes a 2-year pilot project to provide housing to adults with 
intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder who are on the waiting list for home 
and community-based benefits provided under the Department of Health and Human 
Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 21.  The pilot 
project must be modeled on a program operated in the Town of Kittery by A House for 
ME and must provide housing to 2 to 3 residents in each home and, with the assistance of 
community volunteers, assist those residents in becoming active, contributing members of 
the community.