An Act to Establish the Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1738
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: RANA, INGWERSEN
Amends: 22 MRSA §1342

Legislative Document
No. 1738
H.P. 1156
House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Establish the Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program 
to Support Public Health Efforts in the State
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RANA of Bangor.
Cosponsored by Senator INGWERSEN of York and
Representatives: DAIGLE of Fort Kent, DEBRITO of Waterville, GRAHAM of North 
Yarmouth, MCCABE of Lewiston, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, ZAGER of Portland, Senator: 
MOORE of Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 252-A, headnote is amended to read:
CHAPTER 252-A
HYPODERMIC APPARATUS EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND BIOHAZARD 
WASTE DISPOSAL GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §1342 is enacted to read:
§1342.  Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program
1.  Grant program established.  The Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program, 
referred to in this section as "the program," is established to fund hypodermic apparatus 
mitigation and collection efforts in community settings.  The Maine Center for Disease 
Control and Prevention, referred to in this section as "the center," shall administer the 
program, subject to available funding resources.  The center may hire staff to oversee and 
manage the program, including but not limited to: data collection, building community 
partnerships or coalitions and developing public education campaigns related to the 
program.  Subject to available funding resources, the center shall dispense funds on a 
quarterly basis to selected applicants.
2.  Eligibility.  The center shall make grants under the program available to:
A.  Community-based organizations, including hypodermic apparatus exchange 
programs certified pursuant to section 1341; and
B.  Municipalities, including municipal health departments.
3.  Application process.  The center shall develop an application process for the 
program that includes, but is not limited to:
A.  Criteria to demonstrate community need;
B.  A narrative description of the proposed project, including goals and objectives, as 
determined by the office; and
C.  Budgetary requirements, projected outcomes and a data collection plan.
4.  Funding prioritization.  The center shall give funding priority to applications that 
involve one or more of the following:
A.  Addressing geographic areas with a documented increase in calls for service 
regarding improperly discarded hypodermic apparatuses;
B.  A demonstrated collaborative approach involving community stakeholders; and
C.  Innovative or evidence-based strategies to increase access to biohazard waste 
disposal programming.
5.  Use of funds.  Grant funds must be used:
A.  To purchase and install disposal boxes suitable for indoor and outdoor use in 
locations strategically identified to maximize use and reduce biohazard exposure risk;
B.  For appropriate permanent disposal of collected hypodermic apparatuses by an in-
state facility in good standing with the Department of Environmental Protection and 
applicable compliance-related standards or certifications;
C. To hire and train staff of the grantee to collect and dispose of improperly discarded 
hypodermic apparatuses; and
D. For other innovative or evidence-based strategies designed to mitigate and prevent 
improper disposal of hypodermic apparatuses.
6.  Annual report.  The center shall submit a report annually to the Legislature 
summarizing grant program outcomes, including recommendations for improvements or 
additional funding needs. The reporting period begins on November 1st and ends on 
October 31st. The report may be included in the report under section 1341, subsection 3 or 
submitted at the same time annually.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program within the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
The purpose of the program is to disseminate grant funds to community organizations 
seeking to develop or enhance community hypodermic apparatus mitigation and disposal 
efforts. The center is required to establish grant guidelines and selection requirements, as 
well as to submit an annual report to the Legislature.