Resolve, to Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1631
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, MOORE

Legislative Document
No. 1631
H.P. 1085
House of Representatives, April 15, 2025
Resolve, to Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder 
Group to Address Child Stay Times in Hospital Emergency 
Departments
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 11, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, DEBRITO of Waterville, DUCHARME of Madison, 
GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, JAVNER of Chester, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, STOVER of 
Boothbay, Senator: RENY of Lincoln.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to implement certain 
stakeholder group recommendations; definitions.  Resolved:  That the 
Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the department," 
shall implement, as directed by this resolve, recommendations contained within the report 
of the stakeholder group to address the problem of children and adolescents experiencing 
long stays in hospital emergency departments, established by Resolve 2023, chapter 134, 
submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services on January 16, 
2025.
Sec. 2.  Stabilizing and expanding child and youth residential capacity.  
Resolved:  That the department shall do the following to prevent additional closures and 
encourage the reopening of beds for child and youth residential treatment:
1.  Engage in outreach to providers of residential services, inpatient psychiatric services 
and community-based services in this State to counsel those providers on resource needs; 
and
2.  Provide emergency funds to support intensive staffing levels necessary for services 
to individuals with acute staffing needs, such as an individual who requires a 2:1 or 3:1 
staffing ratio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sec. 3.  Develop internal compliance process for early and periodic 
screening, diagnosis and treatment.  Resolved:  That the department shall develop 
an internal monitoring or review process designed to ensure that the department is meeting 
its obligations to make available and maximize its use of funding for early and periodic 
screening, diagnostic and treatment services as defined in 42 United States Code, Section 
1396d(r) (2024).
Sec. 4.  Department to submit additional data reports to Legislature.  
Resolved:  That the department shall submit 2 additional data reports to the Legislature 
relating to the issue of long stays of children in hospital emergency departments and other 
matters related to youth services. The report must include data related to:
1.  Any occurrence of a child experiencing a stay in a hospital emergency department 
exceeding 48 hours;
2.  Any denials for child and youth residential services; 
3.  The number of youth in this State residing in treatment facilities for more than one 
year; 
4.  The number of youth in out-of-state placements; and
5.  Any closures of health care programs serving children and youth.
The first report is due no later than December 3, 2025. The 2nd report is due no later than 
November 4, 2026.
Sec. 5.  Department to report on data and policy efforts related to 
behavioral health services.  Resolved:  That the department shall develop and submit 
to the Legislature a report that includes the following: 
1.  A gap analysis that describes all of the youth beds and programs added since 2018 
and removed since 2018; 
2.  Current information on waiting lists for youth programs, including the average and 
median wait time to access approved services; 
3.  An update on efforts to implement a so-called high fidelity wraparound service for 
children; 
4.  An update on the implementation of multidimensional treatment foster care 
services; 
5.  An update on efforts to bolster existing home and community treatment services, 
assertive community treatment and school-based services programs; 
6.  An update on the development of psychiatric residential treatment facility level care 
for children in this State; 
7.  An update on the certified community behavioral health clinic Medicaid 
demonstration; and 
8.  An update on the development of crisis receiving centers for children.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to implement 
certain recommendations made by the stakeholder group to address the problem of children 
and adolescents experiencing long stays in hospital emergency departments, established by 
Resolve 2023, chapter 134, as outlined in the stakeholder group's report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services submitted on January 16, 2025. The 
department is directed to do the following:
1.  Address the closure of beds for children and youth residential services by counseling 
service providers about resource needs and providing emergency funds to support acute 
staffing needs; 
2.  Develop an internal process to ensure that the department is meeting its obligations 
to make available and maximize its use of funding for early and periodic screening, 
diagnostic and treatment services; 
3.  Submit 2 additional reports to the Legislature related to the number of children 
experiencing long stays in hospital emergency departments and other matters related to 
youth services; and 
4.  Submit a report to the Legislature containing a gap analysis that describes all of the 
youth beds and programs added since 2018 and lost since 2018 and information concerning 
waiting lists and average time waiting for approval for youth programs. The report must 
also contain updates on the implementation and development of various policy efforts 
related to behavioral health services.