An Act to Provide Safe, Short-term Housing to Individuals Recently Released from Correctional Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1514
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, ROTUNDO, BOYER, FOSTER, GERE, SALISBURY, BEEBE-CENTER, PIERCE
Amends: 34-A MRSA §3053

Legislative Document
No. 1514
H.P. 969
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
An Act to Provide Safe, Short-term Housing to Individuals Recently 
Released from Correctional Facilities
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin and
Representatives: BOYER of Poland, FOSTER of Dexter, GERE of Kennebunkport, 
SALISBURY of Westbrook, Senators: BEEBE-CENTER of Knox, PIERCE of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  34-A MRSA §3053 is enacted to read:
§3053.  Transitional housing program and fund
1.  Transitional housing.  The department, in collaboration with the Maine State 
Housing Authority, shall administer a program to provide transitional housing to an 
indigent client for the first 2 months after the client's release from a correctional facility.  
Criteria for housing under this section include that:
A. The housing is maintained in a safe, sanitary manner and meets all state and local 
building codes under Title 10, chapter 1103 and fire and life safety codes under Title 
25, section 2452 for the type of building in which the transitional housing is located;
B. The former client has a bed, adequate bedroom and living space and the housing has 
private toilet and bathing facilities and adequate dining and kitchen facilities for the 
number of residents in the unit or building; and
C. Adequate provisions have been made for a former client convicted of a sex offense 
under Title 17-A, chapters 11 and 12 and to meet all requirements and restrictions for 
sex offenders under Title 34-A, chapters 15 and 17.
2.  Transitional housing fund.  The transitional housing fund, referred to in this 
subsection as "the fund," administered by the department, is established.  The purpose of 
the fund is to support transitional housing for recently released clients of a correctional 
facility under subsection 1.  The fund receives money from appropriations, allocations, 
donations, grants and other public and private funding sources.  The department may invest 
money in the fund, and interest earned by the fund is credited to the fund.  The fund may 
not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.
Sec. 2.  Maine State Housing Authority to study long-term solutions for 
transitional housing for recently released indigent clients of the Department of 
Corrections.  The Maine State Housing Authority, in collaboration with the Department 
of Corrections, shall study long-term solutions for transitional housing for recently released 
indigent clients of the Department of Corrections. By December 4, 2024, the Maine State 
Housing Authority shall submit a report on the conclusions of the study along with any 
recommended legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over labor and housing matters. The joint standing committee may report out 
legislation based upon the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Corrections to administer a program to provide 
transitional housing to recently released indigent clients of the Department of Corrections 
and establishes a fund to fund the program.  This bill also directs the Maine State Housing 
Authority to study long-term solutions for transitional housing for recently released 
indigent clients of the Department of Corrections.