An Act To Expand Access to Certified Substance Use Disorder Recovery Residence Services
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0964
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: FECTEAU, POULIOT, DUNPHY, MADIGAN, PICKETT, WARREN, MAXMIN
Amends: 22 MRSA §4301, 22 MRSA §4305

Legislative Document
No. 964
H.P. 710
House of Representatives, March 9, 2021
An Act To Expand Access to Certified Substance Use Disorder 
Recovery Residence Services
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec and
Representatives: DUNPHY of Old Town, MADIGAN of Waterville, PICKETT of Dixfield, 
WARREN of Hallowell, Senator: MAXMIN of Lincoln.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA c. 521, sub-c. 3-A is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 3-A
RECOVERY
§20057.  Certified recovery residences
Recovery residences must be certified pursuant to the requirements established in 
section 20005, subsection 22, to receive:
1.  Contracts.  Any department contract for a recovery residence or services related to 
the recovery residence; or
2.  Housing assistance.  Any housing assistance or voucher provided by the 
department, the Maine State Housing Authority or a municipality provided to or for the 
person recovering from substance use disorder.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §4301, sub-§14 is enacted to read:
14.  Recovery residence.  "Recovery residence" has the same meaning as in Title 5, 
section 20003, subsection 19-D.
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §4305, sub-§3-E is enacted to read:
3-E.  Recovery residence.  Municipalities may not deny general assistance to a person 
for the sole reason that the person is residing in a recovery residence.  Notwithstanding 
subsection 3-A, municipalities shall establish the maximum levels of assistance for a person 
residing in a recovery residence in the same manner as for any other person seeking 
assistance.  Maximum levels for housing assistance for the costs of the recovery residence 
apply in the same manner as maximum levels of housing assistance established in this 
section as long as the recovery residence has been certified in accordance with Title 5, 
section 20005, subsection 22.  A municipality may not provide housing assistance to a 
person in a recovery residence that has not been certified, but the person may remain 
eligible to receive general assistance for other basic necessities that are included in the 
municipal ordinance.
SUMMARY
This bill requires recovery residences to be certified according to the standards set by 
a nationally recognized organization that supports persons recovering from substance use 
disorder in order to receive contracts from the department or receive housing vouchers or 
municipal general assistance housing assistance from a person living in a recovery 
residence.  The bill also prevents an applicant for general assistance from being denied 
general assistance for the sole reason that the person is living in a recovery residence.  The 
bill requires the costs of living in a recovery residence to be calculated in the same manner 
as for other housing assistance when maximum amounts of general assistance under the 
municipal ordinance and the amount of general assistance granted to the applicant are 
established.