Resolve, to Estabhsh the Blue Ribbon Commiss10n to Study the O1gamzat10n of and Service Delivery by the Department of Health and Human Services
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0915
Committee Amendment CA_A_H408 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to HP 571, L D 915, "Resolve, to Estabhsh 
the Blue Ribbon Commiss10n to Study the O1gamzat10n of and Service Delivery by the 
Department of Health and Human Services" 
Amend the resolve by msertmg after the title the followmg 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and 1esolves of the Leg1slatme do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies, and 
Whereas, this legislat10n establishes the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study the 
ganizat10n of and Service Delivery by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
and 
Whereas, this leg1slat10n must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day pe110d 
so that the comm1ss1on may timely meet and make its report to the Legislature, and 
Whereas, m the Judgment of the Legislature, these facts c1eate an eme1gency wtthm 
the meanmg of the Constltut10n of Mame and reqmre the followmg legislation as 
1mmed1ately necessary for the pieservatlon of the public peace, health and safety, now, 
the1efore,
Amend the resolve by stnkmg out all of sections 2 and 3 and insertmg the followmg 
'Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notw1thstandmg Jomt Rule 
353, the comm1ss1on consists of 13 members as follows 
Th1ee members of the Senate appomted by the Piesident of the Senate, mcludmg 
one member of the party holdmg the la1gest number of seats m the Legislature and one 
member of the party holdmg the 2nd largest number of seats m the Legislature, 
Three members of the House of Representatives appomted by the Speakei of the 
House of Representatives, mcludmg one member of the party holdmg the largest number 
of seats m the Legislature and one member of the party holding the 2nd la1gest number of 
seats m the Legislature, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMlTIEEAMENDMKNT'A"toHP 571,LD 915 
Two members appomted by the Pies1dent of the Senate, one of whom must have 
hved expenence m canng for one of the followmg types of mdividuals and one who 
represents the mterests of at least 2 of the followmg types of md1viduals or pt ov1ders of 
care to at least 2 of the followmg types of mdiv1duals 
A Individuals with intellectual disabihties or autism, 
B Individuals with mental health d1s01 ders or substance use disorder, 
C Individuals expenencmg poverty, 
D Elderly mdividuals, 
E Chtld1 en receivmg child welfare services, or 
F Children receivmg early childhood services, 
Two members appomted by the Speake1 of the House of Rep1esentatlves, one of 
whom must have lived experience m carmg for one of the followmg types of md1viduals 
and one who represents the interests of at least 2 of the following types of mdividuals or 
providers of care to at least 2 of the followmg types of mdiv1duals 
A Individuals with intellectual d1sabtlities or autism, 
B Individuals with mental health disorders or substance use disordei, 
C Ind1v1duals expenencmg poverty, 
D Elderly mdividuals, 
E Children receivmg child welfaie services, or 
F Chtldien 1eceivmg early chtldhood services, 
The Commissionei of Health and Human Services or the comn11ss1oner's des1gnee, 
and 
Two directors of offices withm the Department of Health and Human Services 
chosen by the commissioner 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the fit st-named Senate membei is the Senate chau 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chan of the 
commiss10n ' 
Amend the resolve by stnkmg out all of sect10ns 5, 6 and 7 and msertmg the followmg 
'Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall examme the orgamzat1onal 
structure of the Department of Health and Human Services and the services provided by 
the department The commission shall examme 
The orgamzational structui e of and service deb very by similar agencies m othe1 
states and m nongovernmental orgamzat10ns, 
The strengths and weaknesses m the services pt ovided with state and federal 
fundmg, 
Current proposals for 1mprovmg the safety and well-bemg of child1en and 
strengthenmg fam1hes across all populat10ns and geographical areas of the State, 
Barners to accessmg services, as well as system fa1lmes and additional needed 
resources, and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
' \ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A• to HP 571, L D 915 
Areas m which processes can be streamlined and efficiencies made withm the 
department 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Leg1slat1ve Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commiss10n, except that Legislative Council staff support 
1s not authorized when the Legislature 1s in regular or special session 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than November 6, 2024, the comm1ss1on 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendat10ns, mcluding suggested 
legislation, for presentat10n to the Joint standing committee of the Leg1slatu1 e having 
jurisdict10n over health and human services matters The committee may submit legislation 
to the 132nd Leg1slatme in 2025 ' 
Amend the 1esolve by adding before the summary the following 
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this leg1slat1011 
takes effect when appi oved ' 
Amend the resolve by relette11ng or renumbeiing any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
sect10n number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the Blue Ribbon Commission to 
Study the Orgamzat10n of and Service Delivery by the Department of Health and Human 
Services 
It changes the membership of the commission 
It expands the duties of the commiss10n 
It replaces staffing by the Office of Progiam Evaluation and Government 
Accountabibty with staffing by the Legislative Council 
It changes the date for the report fiom December 1, 2024 to Novembe1 6, 2024 
It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 06/05/23 ;$Pae 
LD915 
LR 259(02) 
Resolve, to Establish the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study the Organization of and Service Delivery 
by the Department of Health and Human Services 
) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A· l/1~/J ag 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
l 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Leg1slat1ve Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $4,200 m fiscal year 2023-24 and $4,450 m fiscal 
year 2024-25 The Legislature's p1oposed budget foi the 2024-2025 bienmum includes $14,500 m each of fiscal years 
2023-24 and 2024-25 for the costs of legislative studies, as well as $2,234 m p10Jected balances from fiscal year'., 
and $36,777 of balances earned over from prior yeais for this purpose Whether these amounts are sufficient tc. 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature The 
addit10nal costs ofprovidmg staffing assistance to the study durmg the mtenm can be absorbed utilizing existmg 
budgeted staff resources 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any addit10nal costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to take part 111 the Blue Ribbon Commission to 
Study the Orgamzation of and Service Delivery by the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to be 
mmor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources 
LR0259(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1