An Act To Establish a Progressive Treatment Program Monitor
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1993
Committee: Health and Human Services
Amends: 34-B MRSA §3873-A

Legislative Document
No. 1993
H.P. 1479
House of Representatives, February 16, 2022
An Act To Establish a Progressive Treatment Program Monitor
Reported by Representative MEYER of Eliot for the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
and Human Services pursuant to Resolve 2021, chapter 60, section 3.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  34-B MRSA §3873-A, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
11.  Progressive treatment program monitor.  The commissioner shall designate a 
progressive treatment program monitor within the department. The duties of the monitor 
include, but are not limited to, the following:
A.  Developing and delivering standardized training to progressive treatment program 
stakeholders, including but not limited to hospitals, ACT teams and members of law 
enforcement. The training must include the following:
(1)  A review of the requirements of this section;
(2)  Information on assisting private hospitals in the initiation of progressive 
treatment programs;
(3)  Information on identifying appropriate progressive treatment program 
candidates;
(4)  Information on establishing enforceable progressive treatment program goals, 
with a focus on known risks for developing psychiatric decompensation; and 
(5)  Instruction that progressive treatment program enforcement is focused on 
previously established, judicially endorsed goals;
B.  Ensuring that patients' rights are maintained, that progressive treatment programs 
are based on adequate risk assessment and that treatment is appropriate and 
coordinated;
C.  Collecting and reviewing data on progressive treatment program outcomes 
statewide; and
D.  Making recommendations to the Legislature regarding needed changes to this 
section and submitting an annual report regarding progressive treatment programs to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters.
Sec. 2.  Renewal of progressive treatment program.  The Department of Health 
and Human Services shall establish mechanisms to ensure that an existing progressive 
treatment program can be maintained during an involuntary hospitalization pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, article 3 or to ensure that an 
existing progressive treatment program can be expeditiously renewed or amended 
following such a commitment, if the commitment is determined to be clinically appropriate, 
necessary to maintain safety and in accordance with patient rights. By November 1, 2023, 
the department shall make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters with any suggested 
legislation necessary to achieve the requirements of this section.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a progressive treatment program monitor position within the 
Department of Health and Human Services. The monitor's duties include developing and 
delivering standardized training to progressive treatment program stakeholders; ensuring 
that patients' rights are maintained, that progressive treatment programs are based on 
adequate  risk assessment and that treatment is appropriate and coordinated; collecting and 
reviewing data on progressive treatment program outcomes statewide; and submitting 
recommendations to the Legislature regarding needed changes to laws governing the 
progressive treatment program. The bill also directs the department to establish 
mechanisms by which an existing progressive treatment program can be maintained during 
an involuntary hospitalization ordered by a court or by which an existing progressive 
treatment program can be expeditiously renewed or amended following such a 
commitment, if determined clinically appropriate, necessary to maintain safety and in 
accordance with patient rights.  By November 1, 2023, the department must make 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters with legislation necessary to achieve these goals.