An Act to Establish Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1719
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, FARRIN, CRAFTS, MEYER, PERRY, RISEMAN, BENNETT, JACKSON, MOORE, POULIOT
Amends: 5 MRSA §20005

Legislative Document
No. 1719
H.P. 1106
House of Representatives, April 18, 2023
An Act to Establish Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: CRAFTS of Newcastle, MEYER of Eliot, PERRY of Calais, RISEMAN of 
Harrison, Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, President JACKSON of Aroostook, MOORE of 
Washington, POULIOT of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§21, as amended by PL 2019, c. 524, §11, is further 
amended to read:
21.  List of banned performance-enhancing substances.  Develop and maintain a list 
of banned performance-enhancing substances in accordance with Title 20‑A, section 6621; 
and
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§22, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 524, §12, is amended 
to read:
22.  Certification of recovery residences.  Establish by rule criteria for the 
certification of recovery residences.  The criteria for the certification of recovery residences 
must be based on criteria for recovery residences developed by a nationally recognized 
organization that supports persons recovering from substance use disorder.  Certification 
of a recovery residence pursuant to this subsection is voluntary.  Rules adopted pursuant to 
this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.; and
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§23 is enacted to read:
23.  Treatment centers.  Establish 2 treatment centers for substance use disorder 
treatment.  The treatment centers must have at least 10 beds each.  At least 40% of the 
occupancy in the treatment centers must be made available to individuals who have 
coverage under the MaineCare program.  A treatment center established pursuant to this 
subsection shall provide:
A.  A receiving center that is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to provide 
substance use disorder treatment while a patient waits for access to a higher level of 
care;
B.  Medically managed withdrawal services;
C.  Access to medication to treat substance use disorder, including any medication 
approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and
D.  Coordination with services after treatment, including but not limited to local 
recovery centers, hypodermic apparatus exchange programs and recovery residences.
No later than February 1, 2025 and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters on the number of people served, the types of services provided, the 
attempts made at community outreach and any recommendations relating to the services 
provided by the treatment centers.
Sec. 4.  Request for proposals.  No later than December 1, 2023, the Department 
of Health and Human Services shall award contracts pursuant to a request for proposals to 
establish and operate the treatment centers required pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 20005, subsection 23.
Sec. 5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Z199
Initiative: Provides funding for the establishment and ongoing operations of 2 substance 
use disorder treatment centers.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$4,000,000
$4,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$4,000,000
$4,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish 2 
treatment centers for substance use disorder treatment.