An Act to Establish a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0215
Committee Amendment CA_A_H645 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4305, 22 MRSA §4311

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 138, L.D. 215, "An Act to Establish a 
Program to Assist Residents of Large Recovery Residences" 
Amenq the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Regarding Large Recovery Residences' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the· Legislature do riot 
b~come effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as einergenci.~s_; and 
Whereas, residents of the State continue to suffer from the devastating impacts of 
substance use disorder; and 
\.,.' •. 
Whereas, recovery residences have proven to be effective in helping residents of the 
State experiencing substance use disorder in initiating and maintaining recovery; and 
Whereas, funding for recovery residences remains limited; and 
Whereas, many residents of recovery residences have turned to municipal general 
assistance for support; and 
Whereas, municipalities with large recovery residences have experienced steep and 
unsustainable increases in general assistance expenses; and 
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
in order to address these issues; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~oro 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 138, L.D. 215 
1Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4305, sub-§3-E is enacted to read: 
3-E. Maximum levels of assistance for large recovery residences. Municipalities 
shall establish maximum levels of assistance for housing assistance provided to or on behalf 
of a person residing in a recovery residence, as described in section 4309, subsection 6, 
with occupancy of 26 or more beds, in an amount equal to 70% of the maximum levels of 
assistance for recovery residences with occupancy of 25 or fewer beds. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4311, sub-§1-D is enacted to read: 
1-D. 
Reimbursement for large recovery residences. 
The department shall 
reimburse each municipality for housing assistance provided to or on behalf of a person 
residing in a recovery residence, as described in section 4309, subsection 6, with occupancy 
of 26 or more beds, in an amount equal to 100% of housing assistance granted to that 
individual. 
Sec. 3. Department to convene stakeholder group; report. The Department of 
Health and Human Services shall convene a stalceholder group of interested parties, 
including, but not limited to, individuals in recovery, operators of recovery residences, 
municipal officials and individuals representing the entity responsible for the certificll.tiou 
of recovery residences in the State to review options for managing the costs of general 
assistance provided for residents of recovery residences, including possible expansion or 
creation of state-funded subsidy programs. The department shall report its findings by 
February 1, 2026 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The 
committee may report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 132nd Legislature or to any special session of the 132nd Legislature. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Office of Behavioral Health Z199 
Initiative: Establishes one Social Service Program Specialist II position to provide program 
and contract oversight for recovery housing initiatives and technical assistance to 
community-based recovery service providers and provides funding for related All Other 
costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Office of Behavioral Health Z199 
2025-26 
1.000 . 
$113,649 
$7,256 
$120,905 
2026-27 
1.000 
$119,023 
$7,256 
$126,279 
Initiative: Provides funding to reimburse municipalities for 100% of housing assistance 
provided for a person residing in a certified recovery residence with 26 or more beds. 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$120,139 
$120,139 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
' 
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~ 
COMMIT1EE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 138, L.D. 215 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$120,139 
2025-26 
$241,044 
$241,044 
$120,139 
2026-27 
$246,418 
$246,418 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
talces effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, changes the title and adds an emergency preamble 
and emergency clause. It establishes maximum levels of assistance for housing assistance 
provided to or on behalf of a person residing in a certified recovery residence with 
occupancy of 26 or more beds, in an amount equal to 70% of the maximum levels of 
assistance for recovery residences with occupancy of 25 or fewer beds. It requires the 
Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse each municipality for housing 
assistance provided to or on behalf of a person residing in a certified recovery residence 
with occupancy of 26 or more beds, in an amount equal to 100% of housing assistance 
granted to that individual. It also directs the department to convene a stalceholder group of 
interested parties, including, but not limited to, individuals in recovery, operators of 
recovery residences, municipal officials and individuals representing the entity responsible 
for the certification of recovery residences in the State to review options for managing the 
costs of general assistance provided for residents of recovery residences, including possible 
expansion or creation of state-funded subsidy programs. The department must report its 
findings by February 1, 2026 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services, and the committee has the authority to report out legislation related to the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/29/25 ·LRL 
LD215 
LR 70(02) 
An Act to Establish a Program to Assist Residents of Large Recovery Residences 
Fiscal Not~ for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •A ( f-{---~ 1/ 5) 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Genefal Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
l I 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-26 
$241,044 
$241,044 
FY 2026-27 
$246,418 
$246,418 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
$250,593 
$250,593 
Projections 
• FY 2028-29 
$254,402 
$254,402 
The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $241,044 
in fiscal year 2025-26 and $246,418 in fiscal year 2026-27 to implement the provisions in the bill. This includes 
ongoing General Fund appropriations of $120,319 in each year to reimburse municipalities for 100% of housing 
assistance provided for a person residing in a certified recovery residence with 26 or more beds. It also includes 
ongoing funding for one Social Service Program Specialist II position to provide program and contract oversight for 
recovery housing initiatives and technical assistance to c01mnunity-based recove1y service providers. 
LR0070(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1