Resolve, Drrectmg the Department of Health and Human Services to Study the Scarcity of Licensed Chmcal Behavioral Health Professionals Across the State
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1506
Committee Amendment CA_A_H209 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H P 961, L D 1506, ''Resolve, Drrectmg the 
Department of Health and Human Services to Study the Scarcity of Licensed Chmcal 
Behavioral Health Professionals Across the State" 
Amend the resolve by stnkmg out all of sect10n 1 and mserting the followmg 
'Sec. l. Department of Health and Human Services study required; traming 
and recruitment of clinical behavioral health care professionals. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene a stakeholder group to 
study issues related to the tiammg and i ecrmtment of chmcal behav101al health cat e 
professionals At a mm1mum, the department shall mvite to be members of the stakeholdei 
group representatives of maJor health care providers m the State, representatives of maJor 
behavioral health care providers m the State, representatives of a ma.Jor mental health 
orgamzation m the State and representatives of the Consumer Council System of Mame, 
licensed climcal social workers, hcensed professional counselors, the Department of Lahm 
and the Department of Professional and Fmancial Regulation The stakeholder group shall 
review issues related to the cuITent number of psychiatnsts, chmcal psychologists, chmcal 
social workers, psychological nurse practit1011e1 s and licensed chmcal p1 ofessional 
counselors currently practicmg m the State, the number of those professionals servmg 
MameCare patients, the number of additional profess10nals needed to meet the cun ent 
unmet need m the State, the state of cUITent waitmg hsts for mental health treatment, access 
to educational opportunities to train clinical behavioral health care professionals m the 
State, costs associated with education programs for chmcal behav101al health care 
professionals m the State, methods to enable mdividuals to work m the chmcal behavioral 
health care field while attammg a degree 01 certification, mcludmg opportumties to count 
time working m the field toward attaming an advanced degree or certification, and ways to 
recrmt chmcal behavioral health care professionals from out of state The Department of 
Health and Human Services may contract for services of a consultant to provide staffmg to 
the stakeholder group, mcludmg convenmg, facihtatmg and providing research for the 
stakeholde1 group By February 1, 2024, the department shall submit a 1eport related to the 
study, mcludmg recommendations and any suggested legislation, to the Jomt Standmg 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Ros· 
COMMIITEEAMENDMENT'A"toHP 961,LD 1506 
Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Fmancial Services and the Jomt Standing 
Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Each 
committee may report out a bill relatmg to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 
st Legislature 
Sec. 2. 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the followmg 
appropnat10ns and allocat10ns are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Mental Health Services - Community Z198 
Initiative. Provides one-time funding to contract with a 3rd party to design and develop a 
survey tool, to convene stakeholders and to generate a report 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2023-24 
$450,000 
$450,000 
2024-25 
$0 
$0 
Amend the resolve by relettermg or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter 01 
section number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes 
It adds representatives of the Consumer Counctl System of Mame, the Department 
of Labor and the Department of Professional and Fmancial Regulation as members of the 
stakeholder group 
It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to contract for services 
to convene, facilitate and provide research for the stakeholder group 
It extends the reportmg deadline from December 6, 2023 to February 1, 2024 
It requires the report to be submitted to the Jomt Standing Committee on Health 
Coverage, Insurance and Fmancial Services and the Joint Standmg Committee on 
Innovation, Development, Econmmc Advancement and Busmess and permits each 
committee to report out a bill relatmg to the report to the Second Regular Sess10n of the 
st Legislature 
It adds an appropriations and allocations section 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 05/13/23 .::k?ae. 
LD 1506 
LR 2175(02) 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Study the Scarcity of Licensed 
Clinical Behavioral Health Professionals Across the State 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, { Jf,-:J,{f/) 
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
Net Cost (Savings) 
Genet al Fund 
,. ~ppropriations/ Allocations 
Genet al Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$450,000 
$450,000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
This bill includes a one-tune General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$450,000 m fiscal year 2023-24 for the department to contract with a third party to design and develop a survey tool, 
to convene stakeholdeis and to generate a report 
Additional costs to the Departments of Labor and Profess10nal and Fmancial Regulat10n associated with havmg 
representatives serve as members of a stakeholder group can be absorbed wtthm ex1stmg budgeted resources 
LR2175(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1