Resolve, to Create the Commission to Improve the Oversight of the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0980
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: TEPLER, SHAGOURY

Legislative Document
No. 980
S.P. 399
In Senate, March 11, 2025
Resolve, to Create the Commission to Improve the Oversight of the 
Long-term Care System
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Representative SHAGOURY of Hallowell and
Senators: BAILEY of York, INGWERSEN of York, MOORE of Washington, RENY of 
Lincoln, Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, FOLEY of Wells.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission to Improve 
the Oversight of the Long-term Care System, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established. 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 9 voting members as follows:
1.  One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2.  One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House;
3.  The executive director of the long-term care ombudsman program under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 5106, subsection 11-C;
4.  One representative of the memory care industry, appointed by the Governor;
5.  One representative of the private nonmedical institution industry, appointed by the 
Governor; 
6.  One representative of the nursing home industry, appointed by the Governor;
7.  The executive director of an agency that advocates for elders in the State; and
8.  Two members of the public who have family members who are currently in a long-
term care facility, appointed by the President of the Senate. 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission. 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  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 commission.  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 commission to meet and conduct its business. 
Sec. 5.  Duties; meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission shall meet monthly 
and at least 6 times and shall study and make recommendations on the following:
1.  The adequacy of the State's system of inspections for long-term care facilities;
2.  Improvement of the laws and rules governing the long-term care industry through 
simplification;
3.  Best practices in other states regarding long-term care industry regulation;  
4.  The recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term Care Workforce 
Issues, as established by Public Law 2019, chapter 343, and the results of those 
recommendations; and
5.  The creation of more effective institutions of long-term care. 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Office of Policy and Legal Analysis and the Office of Program Evaluation and Government 
Accountability shall provide staffing services to the commission. 
Sec. 7.  Report. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than 
March 1, 2026, the commission 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 may report out 
legislation based on the findings and recommendations in the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
SUMMARY
This resolve creates the Commission to Improve the Oversight of the Long-term Care 
System to study and make recommendations on the current status of and improvements to 
long-term care facilities and the long-term care industry in the State. The resolve requires 
the commission to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2026 and authorizes the 
joint standing committee to submit legislation based on the findings and recommendations 
in the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.