Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1799
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: DEBRITO, MOORE

Legislative Document
No. 1799
H.P. 1204
House of Representatives, April 24, 2025
Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to 
Review the Progressive Treatment Program and Processes by 
Which a Person May Be Involuntarily Admitted to a Psychiatric 
Hospital or Receive Court-ordered Community Treatment
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DEBRITO of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: DAIGLE of Fort Kent, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, JAVNER of Chester, 
MCCABE of Lewiston, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, ZAGER of Portland.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to convene stakeholder 
group to review progressive treatment program and processes by which a 
person may be involuntarily admitted to psychiatric hospital or receive court-
ordered community treatment.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Health and 
Human Services shall convene a stakeholder group to accomplish the following:
1.  Review the entire process related to a progressive treatment program under the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 3873-A, including, but not limited to, the 
barriers to filing applications to the District Court by a person authorized to file applications 
under Title 34-B, section 3873-A, subsection 1 and the feasibility of enforcement 
mechanisms when a person fails to comply with a treatment plan; and
2.  Review for consistency and efficiency the processes by which a person may be 
involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital or receive court-ordered community 
treatment pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, 
article 3 and develop recommendations to make the processes more effective and easier to 
administer in order to reduce the consequences of delayed treatment or lack of treatment.  
The review must include a review of how the processes are working, the consistency of 
requirements and implementation of the processes and who is responsible for initiating the 
processes.
Sec. 2.  Membership of the stakeholder group.  Resolved: That the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall invite the following members to 
participate in the stakeholder group under section 1:
1.  At least one representative from the Office of the Attorney General;
2.  One representative from the Riverview Psychiatric Center;
3.  One representative from Northern Light Acadia Hospital;
4.  One representative from MaineHealth;
5.  One representative from the Maine Hospital Association;
6.  One representative from Disability Rights Maine;
7.  One representative from the Consumer Council System of Maine;
8.  At least one individual who is or has been a patient under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, article 3;
9.  One representative from an organization that advocates for family concerns;
10.  At least one individual who is a family member of an individual who is or has been 
a patient under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, article 3;
11.  One individual who is the legal guardian of a patient who is the subject of an 
application for the progressive treatment program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
34-B, section 3873-A;
12.  One representative from the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, 
Maine;
13.  One director of a team providing assertive community treatment;
14.  At least one representative from a community provider who administers the 
treatment plan of a patient admitted to a progressive treatment program;
15.  One representative from a private nonmedical institution;
16.  One psychiatrist from the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians; 
17.  One psychiatric nurse practitioner from the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association; 
and
18.  One law enforcement officer.
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall also invite the participation of 
at least one representative of the Judicial Department.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services 
shall present the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group based on the 
reviews pursuant to section 1 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services no later than December 3, 2025.  The committee may report out legislation to the 
report.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to convene a 
stakeholder group of interested parties to review the entire process related to a progressive 
treatment program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 3873-A and to 
review for efficiency and effectiveness the processes by which a person may be 
involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital or receive court-ordered community 
treatment pursuant to Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, article 3.  The commissioner is 
required to submit a report with recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services no later than December 3, 2025.  The committee is authorized 
to report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature related to 
the recommendations in the report.