An Act Regarding Quality of Care and the Board of Trustees at the Maine Veterans' Homes
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2211
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, JACKSON, MALON, SUPICA, TERRY, HICKMAN
Amends: 37-B MRSA §603, 37-B MRSA §611

Legislative Document
No. 2211
H.P. 1418
House of Representatives, February 15, 2024
An Act Regarding Quality of Care and the Board of Trustees at the 
Maine Veterans' Homes
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: MALON of Biddeford, SUPICA of Bangor, TERRY of Gorham, Senator: 
HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  37-B MRSA §603, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 2021, c. 528, 
§3, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §603, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A.  Appointment; composition.  The board consists of 14 members, one of whom 
must be the Director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, ex officio, who serves 
without term.
A.  The Governor shall appoint 5 members as follows:
(1)  Three members from a list of nominees submitted by the board. The list 
submitted by the board must include individuals recommended to the board by 
established veterans' service organizations with chapters in the State and 
organizations and individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields; 
and
(2)  Two members who are not members of the United States Armed Forces or the 
National Guard or veterans and who are not on the list of nominees submitted by 
the board pursuant to subparagraph (1).
B. The President of the Senate shall appoint 4 members as follows:
(1)  Three members from a list of nominees submitted by the board. The list 
submitted by the board must include individuals recommended to the board by 
established veterans' service organizations with chapters in the State and 
organizations and individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields; 
and
(2)  One member who is not a member of the United States Armed Forces or the 
National Guard or a veteran and who is not on the list of nominees submitted by 
the board pursuant to subparagraph (1).
C.  The Speaker of the House shall appoint 4 members as follows:
(1)  One member from a list of nominees submitted by the board. The list submitted 
by the board must include individuals recommended to the board by established 
veterans' service organizations with chapters in the State and organizations and 
individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields;
(2)  One member who is not a member of the United States Armed Forces or the 
National Guard or a veteran and who is not on the list of nominees submitted by 
the board pursuant to subparagraph (1);
(3)  One member who is a veteran who identifies as Black or African American or 
Native American from a list of recommendations submitted to the board by 
established organizations that represent the interests of Black or African American 
or Native American veterans in the State; and
(4)  One member who identifies as Black or African American or Native American 
who is not a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard or 
a veteran and who is not on the list of nominees submitted by the board pursuant 
to subparagraph (1).
The membership of the board must reflect the diversity of the State, including, but not 
limited to, diversity in geographic location, cultural and ethnic background, race, sexual 
orientation, gender identity and professional experience.  A majority of members must be 
honorably discharged veterans.
Sec. 3.  37-B MRSA §611, as amended by PL 2021, c. 528, §8, is further amended 
to read:
§611.  Annual reports
By February 15, 2023 and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the 
Governor and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
veterans affairs.  This report must contain a copy of audited financial statements, statistics 
on members who resided in the homes during the year, any amendments to the rules 
regarding the administration of the homes made by the board since its last report on the 
administration of the homes, a description of any efforts to seek funding as required under 
section 604, subsection 6, and an analysis of staffing levels, funding and ability of the 
homes to meet the mission of providing members quality care. The report must also contain 
an overview of the annual quality assurance and performance improvement plan as required 
under 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 483.75 and residents' council activities as 
required under Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 110: Regulations 
Governing the Licensing and Functioning of Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing 
Facilities. The report must contain the goals and actions taken to achieve the desired 
outcomes outlined in the quality assurance and performance improvement plan and a 
summary of issues, recommendations and action plans resulting from the residents' council 
operating in each home. The report must include recommendations to the Governor and 
Legislature and information regarding such other matters as the board considers pertinent.  
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs 
may report out legislation based upon the report.
Sec. 4.  Transition.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 
603, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes serving on the board 
on the effective date of this Act may serve the remainder of that member's term. 
Appointments must be made on a rotating basis as each term ends by the Governor, the 
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House until the 13 appointed members have 
been replaced or reappointed. Thereafter, vacancies on the board must be filled according 
to the appointing authority under Title 37-B, section 603.
SUMMARY
This bill accomplishes the following.
1.  It updates the membership criteria of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' 
Homes and alters the appointing authority for appointing members to the board.
2.  It updates the reporting requirements of the board's annual report.