An Act To Amend the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Coordination Program
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0184
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: DeVEAU, FARRIN, ANDREWS, DOLLOFF, FAULKINGHAM, FECTEAU, HANINGTON, JOHANSEN, MORRIS, STROM
Amends: 37-B MRSA §513, 37-B MRSA §513-A

Legislative Document
No. 184
H.P. 147
House of Representatives, January 17, 2019
An Act To Amend the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention 
Coordination Program
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DeVEAU of Caribou.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: ANDREWS of Paris, DOLLOFF of Rumford, FAULKINGHAM of Winter 
Harbor, FECTEAU of Augusta, HANINGTON of Lincoln, JOHANSEN of Monticello, 
MORRIS of Turner, STROM of Pittsfield.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  37-B MRSA §513, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 329, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §513-A is enacted to read:
§513-A.  Veterans' homelessness prevention coordination
1.  Veterans' homelessness prevention partnership.  The director shall establish 
partnerships with human services-based volunteer organizations to coordinate efforts to 
remedy and prevent homelessness among veterans in this State.  The volunteer 
organizations must have as their core programs addressing homelessness and veterans' 
services and have been active in the State for at least 2 years.  Priority must be given to an 
organization founded, chartered or organized in the State.  The director may accept 
donations from outside sources and state and federal funding to accomplish the priorities 
of the partnerships. If state, federal or outside funding is available, the priorities of these 
partnerships, listed in order of priority, include, but are not limited to:
A.  Identifying homeless veterans in the State;
B.  Identifying and securing temporary or permanent living space for veterans within 
the veterans' communities; and
C.  Conducting annual outreach events, targeted to reach the maximum number of 
veterans in need, to disseminate information on resources and services available to 
assist homeless veterans.
2.  Fund established.  The Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Partnership Fund, a 
nonlapsing fund, is established under the bureau for the purpose of receiving funds from 
state, federal and other sources, including donations from private citizens, corporations 
and entities for the purpose of this section.  The bureau, in collaboration with the 
Department of Economic and Community Development, shall distribute any available 
funds in the fund to support the priorities described in this section.
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the current provisions regarding veterans' homelessness prevention 
coordination and instead enacts a provision that allows for multiple partnerships rather 
than a single partnership.  It removes the requirement that the organizations chosen for 
the partnerships be national organizations in existence for at least 30 years.  It requires 
that the organizations chosen be active in the State for at least 2 years, with priority given 
to organizations founded, chartered or organized in Maine.  It changes the order of 
priorities for the partnerships, prioritizing identifying and securing temporary or 
permanent living space for veterans within the veterans' communities over conducting 
annual outreach events.  It establishes a nonlapsing fund to support services for homeless 
veterans and directs the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, 
Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to collaborate with the Department of Economic and 
Community Development to distribute any funds.