Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Study the Coordination of Services and Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities To Identify Barriers to Full Societal Integration
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0924
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PEBWORTH, LUCHINI, COPELAND, DODGE, DRINKWATER

Legislative Document
No. 924
H.P. 680
House of Representatives, March 8, 2021
Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Study the Coordination of 
Services and Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults 
with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities To Identify Barriers 
to Full Societal Integration
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PEBWORTH of Blue Hill.
Cosponsored by Senator LUCHINI of Hancock and
Representatives: COPELAND of Saco, DODGE of Belfast, DRINKWATER of Milford.
Sec. 1.  Task force established. Resolved:  That the Task Force To Study the 
Coordination of Services and Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults with 
Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is 
established to identify barriers inhibiting adults 18 years of age to 40 years of age with 
intellectual or developmental disabilities from being fully integrated into society and to 
recommend possible solutions.
Sec. 2.  Membership. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the task 
force consists of 27 members as follows:
1.  One member of the Senate who serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Labor 
and Housing, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2.  One member of the House of Representatives who serves on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3.  One member of the House of Representatives who serves on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
4.  The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee;
5.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee;
6.  The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee; 
7.  One representative from the office of aging and disability services within the 
Department of Health and Human Services; 
8.  One representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
Child and Family Services; and
9.  Nineteen members appointed by the Commissioner of Education, in consultation 
with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Labor, as 
follows:
A.  One member who represents an advocacy organization for young adults with 
disabilities;
B.  One member who represents a statewide organization of parents of young adults 
with disabilities;
C.  One member who represents a statewide association for adult education;
D.  One member who represents a statewide association for career and technical 
education;
E.  One member who represents the University of Maine System;
F.  One member who represents the Maine Community College System;
G.  One member who represents a statewide association of administrators of services 
for children with disabilities;
H.  One member who represents community-based providers of services for young 
adults with disabilities;
I.  One member who represents the Department of Transportation;
J.  One member who represents the Maine State Housing Authority;
K.  One member who represents a statewide organization that provides information and 
resources for parents and professionals who work with families that have a family member 
who has a disability;
L.  Five members who are parents or guardians or direct care providers of a young adult 
with a disability; and
M.  Three members who are each a young adult with a disability who is eligible to 
receive services from the State.
Sec. 3.  Chair; meetings. Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Education shall 
appoint a chair of the task force and convene the initial meeting of the task force no later 
than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The task force shall hold a 
minimum of 4 meetings.
Sec. 4.  Duties. Resolved:  That the task force shall study the barriers to efficient 
and effective services for young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities after 
high school and make recommendations on targeted reforms to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of these services, including but not limited to:
1.  The coordination of services provided by different agencies; and
2.  The benefits, assessments, expansion and availability of continuing educational 
opportunities for young adults with disabilities after high school.
The task force shall also identify the function and efficacy of current federal and state 
mandates pertaining to young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and 
develop recommendations to enhance the coordination of programs to ensure the most 
efficient and effective provision of essential services, including continuing purposeful 
individualized education, development of self-determination and personal advocacy skills, 
job training, housing, development of independent living skills including management of 
personal health and finances, transportation, recreation and development of social 
functioning.  The task force shall analyze current data and retrospective data for the past 6 
years and provide the measurable success rate of programs providing these essential 
services, with consideration of the preferences, strengths and interests of individual young 
adults with intellectual or development disabilities and parental concerns.
Sec. 5.  Staff assistance. Resolved:  That the Department of Education shall provide 
the task force with staff assistance from existing resources.
Sec. 6.  Outside funding. Resolved:  That the task force may seek outside funding 
to support the work of the task force.
Sec. 7.  Final report. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than 
one year after the initial convening of the task force under section 3, the task force shall 
submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations for presentation to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Task Force To Study the Coordination of Services and 
Expansion of Educational Programs for Young Adults with Intellectual or Developmental 
Disabilities to identify barriers inhibiting adults 18 years of age to 40 years of age with 
intellectual or developmental disabilities from being fully integrated into society and to 
recommend possible solutions.  The membership of the task force consists of Legislators 
who serve on the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education and cultural affairs, health and human services matters and labor and housing 
matters, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, 
the Commissioner of Labor, members of organizations or associations knowledgeable 
about services for young adults with disabilities after high school, parents or guardians or 
direct care providers of a young adult with a disability and young adults with disabilities 
who are eligible to receive services from the State.  The Commissioner of Education 
convenes the task force, which must hold a minimum of 4 meetings and submit a report to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and 
Housing with recommendations on targeted reforms to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of services provided by different agencies and continuing educational 
opportunities for young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities after high 
school.  The task force must also analyze current data and retrospective data for the past 6 
years regarding the function and efficacy of current federal and state mandates pertaining 
to young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and provide 
recommendations to enhance the coordination of programs to ensure the most efficient and 
effective provision of essential services.