An Act To Ensure Low-income Families and Children with Special Needs Can Access After-school Services
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1866
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, BAILEY, CRAFTS, FECTEAU, HARNETT, MATHIESON, PEBWORTH, SACHS, JACKSON
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-I

Legislative Document
No. 1866
H.P. 1376
House of Representatives, January 5, 2022
An Act To Ensure Low-income Families and Children with Special 
Needs Can Access After-school Services
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator BAILEY of York and
Representatives: CRAFTS of Newcastle, Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, HARNETT of 
Gardiner, MATHIESON of Kittery, McCREA of Fort Fairfield, PEBWORTH of Blue Hill, 
SACHS of Freeport, Senator: President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-III is enacted to read:
§3174-III.  Coverage for after-school services
The department shall reimburse under the MaineCare program for after-school services 
for children enrolled in the MaineCare program as required in this section.
1.  After-school services.  The department shall reimburse for after-school services 
provided to school-age children enrolled in the MaineCare program in the same manner as 
services that are medically necessary to access education at school are reimbursed, whether 
the after-school services are provided by a licensed child care provider, an after-school 
program operated by a school district or a recreational program provided in the community, 
including by a municipality.
2.  Services for children with disabilities.  If after-school services pursuant to 
subsection 1 are provided to a child that has a disability, the department shall ensure that 
the after-school services are appropriate to the child's need and that any additional staffing 
necessary to provide after-school services to the child with a disability are reimbursed.
3.  Eligibility for child care subsidies.  A child eligible for MaineCare services under 
this section is also eligible for child care subsidies as provided under chapter 1052-A.  Child 
care subsidies may be used to access after-school services whether the program is provided 
by a licensed child care provider, an after-school program operated by a school district or 
a recreational program provided in the community, including by a municipality.
4.  Rulemaking.  The department may adopt rules to implement this section.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse for after-
school services to children enrolled in the MaineCare program.  The department must 
reimburse for after-school services, whether the services are provided by a licensed child 
care provider, an after-school program operated by a school district or a community 
recreational program, in the same manner as services that are medically necessary to access 
education at school are reimbursed.  If services are provided to a child with a disability in 
an after-school program, the department must ensure that the services are appropriate to 
the child’s need and any additional staffing necessary to provide those services must also 
be reimbursed.  The bill provides that a child eligible for MaineCare services is also eligible 
for child care subsidies and those subsidies may be used for after-school services whether 
the provider is a licensed child care provider, an after-school program operated by a school 
district or a community recreational program.