An Act to Expand Access to Certified Residential Medication Aide
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2083
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MEYER
Amends: 22 MRSA §42

Legislative Document
No. 2083
H.P. 1398
House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act to Expand Access to Certified Residential Medication Aide 
Training
Submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 203.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MEYER of Eliot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §42, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2025, c. 237, §1, is further 
amended to read:
1-A.  Administration of medication.  The administration of medication in assisted 
housing programs, residential care facilities, drug treatment centers, day care facilities, 
children's homes and nursery schools and nonnursing level intermediate care facilities for 
persons with intellectual disabilities must be in accordance with rules established by the 
department.  In other facilities licensed or approved by the department, excluding those 
facilities licensed under section 1811, other than nonnursing level intermediate care 
facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities, the department may establish rules for 
the administration of medication as it considers necessary.  In establishing rules for each 
type of facility, the department shall consider, among other factors, the general health of 
the persons likely to receive medication, the number of persons served by the facility and 
the number of persons employed at the facility who might be involved in the administration 
of medication.  Any rules for the administration of medication must be established in 
accordance with Title 5, chapter 375.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §42, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B.  Certified residential medication aide certificate.  The department shall issue a 
certificate to an individual who has successfully completed a department-approved 
certified residential medication aide course that meets the medication administration 
training requirements for unlicensed assistive personnel under Title 32, section 2102, 
subsection 11 in accordance with rules established by the department for facilities under 
subsection 1-A. The course must be designed to ensure competency in the safe 
administration of medications by individuals who are not licensed health care 
professionals. The department shall review the course curriculum at least once every 5 
years, or more frequently as determined necessary by the commissioner, to ensure 
alignment with current clinical standards, safety practices and the needs of residents and 
clients in facilities under subsection 1-A. The department shall develop rules for the 
certification of certified residential medication aides and certified residential medication 
aide instructors and may establish and collect reasonable certification fees and sanction 
fees from individuals as well as from instructors.  Fees must be set by rule and may range 
from $25 to $100 per individual or instructor, per course, and be valid for a 2-year 
certification period, as specified by rule. Fees collected pursuant to this section must be 
deposited in a dedicated special revenue account to support certified residential medication 
aide certification activities and the ongoing oversight and maintenance of the curriculum. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a certificate to 
an individual who has successfully completed a department-approved certified residential 
medication aide course that meets the medication administration training requirements for 
unlicensed assistive personnel in accordance with rules established by the department for 
certain facilities. The bill also requires the department to review the course curriculum at 
least every 5 years and allows the department to establish by rule certification fees and 
sanction fees for certified residential medication aides and instructors.