An Act To Establish Wage and Employment Parity between Adult and Child Protective Services Caseworkers in the Department of Health and Human Services
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0428
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: RECKITT, COLLINGS, GRAMLICH, HEPLER, HOBBS, INGWERSEN
Amends: 22 MRSA §3473

Legislative Document
No. 428
H.P. 337
House of Representatives, January 29, 2019
An Act To Establish Wage and Employment Parity between Adult 
and Child Protective Services Caseworkers in the Department of 
Health and Human Services
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RECKITT of South Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: COLLINGS of Portland, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard 
Beach, HEPLER of Woolwich, HOBBS of Wells, INGWERSEN of Arundel.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3473, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Mandatory training.  The department shall provide to a new employee engaged 
in protective services at least one week of training related to the employee's job 
responsibilities.
Sec. 2.  Staffing levels.  The number of supervisory positions relating to adult 
protective services within the Department of Health and Human Services' office of aging 
and disability services must equal the number of supervisory positions within the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services relating 
to child protective services.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Office of Aging and Disability Services Adult Protective Services Z040
Initiative:  Provides increased funding for the creation of 2 Adult Protective Services 
Caseworker Supervisor positions within the Office of Aging and Disability Services 
Adult Protective Services program to achieve the same supervisor to caseworker ratio as 
the child protective services within the Office of Child and Family Services.
Office of Aging and Disability Services Adult Protective Services Z040
Initiative:  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 7065, provides 
funding for the recruitment and retention of employees in Adult Protective Services 
Caseworker positions and Adult Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor positions 
with a $5 per wage-hour stipend payment.
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
2.000
2.000
Personal Services
$167,930
$173,805
All Other
$12,572
$12,572
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$180,502
$186,377
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
Personal Services
$696,800
$696,800
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$696,800
$696,800
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide at least 
one week of training to new employees engaged in adult protective services.  It requires 
the number of supervisory positions in adult protective services and child protective 
services to be identical.  It provides funding for the recruitment and retention of 
employees in Adult Protective Services Caseworker positions and Adult Protective 
Services Caseworker Supervisor positions with a $5 per wage-hour stipend payment.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2019-20
2020-21
GENERAL FUND
$877,302
$883,177
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$877,302
$883,177