An Act To Create Culturally Sensitive Treatment and Recovery Halfway Houses for Immigrants Transitioning out of the Juvenile Justice System
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0963
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BROOKS, LIBBY, CLOUTIER, CRAVEN, MELARAGNO, MORALES, WARREN, CLAXTON, MAXMIN
Amends: 34-A MRSA §1402

Legislative Document
No. 963
H.P. 709
House of Representatives, March 9, 2021
An Act To Create Culturally Sensitive Treatment and Recovery 
Halfway Houses for Immigrants Transitioning out of the Juvenile 
Justice System
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BROOKS of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator LIBBY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, CRAVEN of Lewiston, MELARAGNO of Auburn, 
MORALES of South Portland, WARREN of Hallowell, Senators: CLAXTON of 
Androscoggin, MAXMIN of Lincoln.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  34-A MRSA §1402, sub-§10-A is enacted to read:
10-A.  Treatment and recovery halfway houses for immigrants.  The commissioner 
shall establish treatment and recovery halfway houses for youth in the State to provide 
halfway house services and substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, 
education and job training and employment and job opportunity services for youth 
transitioning out of the juvenile justice system who are immigrants or whose families have 
immigrated to the State.  The commissioner shall work in partnership with a nonprofit 
organization formed for the purpose of involving immigrants in the civic work of their 
communities, along with other local immigrant community members and associations and 
local, state and federal agencies to provide halfway house services and other services in a 
culturally sensitive manner.  The halfway houses must be assigned to only one gender and 
must provide housing services, referrals to community-based services and supports and 
education and employment resources. The halfway houses must be funded with 
contributions from the department and with any grants, donations and private funding 
received for this purpose.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to establish treatment and recovery 
halfway houses for youth in the State to provide halfway house services and substance use 
disorder treatment, mental health treatment, education and job training and employment 
and job opportunity services for youth transitioning out of the juvenile justice system who 
are immigrants or whose families have immigrated to the State. The commissioner is 
directed to work in partnership with a nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of 
involving immigrants in the civic work of their communities, local immigrant community 
members and associations and local, state and federal agencies to provide halfway house 
services and other services in a culturally sensitive manner.  The halfway houses must be 
assigned to only one gender and must provide housing services, referrals to community-
based services and supports and education and employment resources. The halfway houses 
must be funded with contributions from the Department of Corrections and with any grants, 
donations and private funding received for this purpose.