An Act to Provide Grants to Schools That Contract for Behavioral
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1203
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, MURPHY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6672

Legislative Document
No. 1203
S.P. 492
In Senate, March 20, 2025
An Act to Provide Grants to Schools That Contract for Behavioral 
and Mental Health Services
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative MURPHY of Scarborough and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, INGWERSEN of York, MOORE of Washington, 
RAFFERTY of York, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, Representatives: CARLOW of Buxton, 
DODGE of Belfast, MITCHELL of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 223, sub-c. 10, headnote is amended to read:
SUBCHAPTER 10
YOUTH BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §6672 is enacted to read:
§6672.  Behavioral and mental health grant program
1. Grant program. The department shall establish and administer a grant program to 
provide grants to school administrative units that contract for behavioral and mental health 
services provided by licensed behavioral and mental health service providers. 
2. Limitation on use of funds. Funds provided under the grant program under this 
section may be used only for behavioral and mental health services that are not otherwise 
covered or reimbursable through the MaineCare program.  Funds must be used in a manner 
that ensures that contracted behavioral and mental health service providers do not supplant 
qualified and available school administrative unit behavioral and mental health staff.
3.  Grant program funding based on clinicians needed.  In administering the grant 
program under this section, the department shall provide grant funds to a school 
administrative unit based on the number of clinicians needed by the school administrative 
unit and in the amount of:
A.  Prior to July 1, 2027, $20,000 per clinician; and
B.  Beginning July 1, 2027, $25,000 per clinician.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
School and Student Supports Z270
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for grants to school administrative units for contracted 
behavioral and mental health services for students. The grants are based on how many 
clinicians the school administrative unit needs at a cost of $20,000 per clinician.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Education to provide 
grants to school administrative units that contract for behavioral and mental health services 
provided by licensed behavioral and mental health service providers. The bill limits the use 
of funds provided through the grant program to behavioral and mental health services that 
are not otherwise covered or reimbursable through the MaineCare program and provides 
that funds must be used in a manner that does not supplant qualified and available school 
administrative unit behavioral and mental health staff.  The bill also provides that the 
amounts of the grants must be based on a school administrative unit's need for clinicians 
and in the amount of $20,000 per clinician prior to July 1, 2027 and $25,000 per clinician 
beginning July 1, 2027.  The bill provides funding for the grants for fiscal years 2025-26 
and 2026-27.