Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Equitable Access to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1028
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, BOYER

Legislative Document
No. 1028
S.P. 446
In Senate, March 13, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Equitable Access to 
Maternal Health Care and Birthing Facilities
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 12, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative BOYER of Cape Elizabeth and
Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, CARNEY of Cumberland, INGWERSEN of York, 
MOORE of Washington, Representatives: ARATA of New Gloucester, DAIGLE of Fort Kent, 
JAVNER of Chester, ZAGER of Portland.
Sec. 1.  Task force established.  Resolved:  That the Task Force to Study Equitable 
Access to Maternal Health Care and Birthing Facilities, referred to in this resolve as "the 
task force," is established.
Sec. 2.  Task force membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the task force consists of 13 members as follows:
1.  Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the 
Legislature;
2.  Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature;
3.  Four members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
A.  One member with expertise in obstetrics and gynecology;
B.  One member with expertise in certified nurse midwifery; 
C.  One member representing the State's perinatal quality of care system; and
D.  One member representing the division governing maternal and child health services 
within the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease 
Control and Prevention;
4.  Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
A.  One member with expertise in rural health care delivery;
B.  One member with expertise in independent birthing centers; 
C.  One member representing an association of hospitals; and
D.  One member representing a federally qualified health center in the State; and
5.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee.
In making appointments under this section, the appointing authorities shall give 
consideration to the unique needs of rural populations.
The chairs under section 3 may appoint as nonvoting members of the task force persons 
with expertise in obstetrics and perinatal health.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force.  
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of task force.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force.  If 30 days or more after 
the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the 
chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the task 
force to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the task force shall compile and analyze information 
from existing published reports on:
1.  Past essential services closures of maternal health care units, including inpatient 
maternity units, acute-care birthing units and preventive maternal health care centers, and 
centers providing family planning services, obstetrics and gynecology services and 
midwifery services;
2.  Patient quality of care and safety considerations of essential services closures of 
maternal health care units, including rules concerning quality, safety and staffing adopted 
by the Department of Health and Human Services that inform acute maternal health care 
essential services closures;
3.  Demographic information on populations of patients whose access to maternal 
health care services has been most affected by past closures or current availability 
limitations, including, but not limited to, geographical location; type of insurance coverage; 
age; race; ethnicity; income; status as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and other allied communities; and immigration status; 
4.  The current availability of and access to maternal health care services across regions 
of the State and among birthing center patient populations, including the essential services 
closure process and the capacity of the maternal health care workforce; and
5.  Methods to increase the financial investment in and patient access to maternal health 
care services across the State and ensure equitable access for the most vulnerable birthing 
center patient populations.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force, except that 
Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or 
special session.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than 
January 6, 2026, the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services.  The Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services is authorized to report out legislation related to the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Task Force to Study Equitable Access to Maternal Health 
Care and Birthing Facilities, which is directed to study past closures of maternal health care 
centers in the State, the current availability of access to maternal health care services in the 
State and methods to increase patient access to maternal health care services, including 
equitable access for vulnerable populations.  The task force is required to submit a report 
and suggested legislation by January 6, 2026 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
and Human Services, which is authorized to report out legislation based on the report to 
the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.