An Act to Create a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0555
Committee Amendment CA_A_S653 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/}' " to S.P. 217, L.D. 555, "An Act to Create a
Separate Department of Child and Family Services"
Amend the bill in Part A in section 2 in Title 22-B in Sub-t. 1 in c. 1 in sub-c. 2 in §203
by inserting after subsection 2 the following:
'3. Prohibition on previous leadership. Notwithstandme subsections 1 and 2. a
person who has held the position of commissioner or deputy commissioner of the
Department of Health and Human Services at any time between January 1. 2019 and
Janu_ary 6, 2027 may not be appomted to the nosition of commissioner or deputy
commissioner oursuant to this section.'
Amend the bill in Part A in section 2 in Title 22-B in Sub-t. 1 me. 1 in sub-c. 2 in §204
in subsection 4 in the last line (page 4, line 5 in L.D.) by inserting after the following:
"officet" the following: 'A person who has held the position of director or deputy director
or associate director of the Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Child and
Family Services at any time between January 1. 2019 and January 6. 2027 may not be
appointed to the position of deputy commissioner or office director pursuant to this
subsectioQ.'
Amend the bill in Part A by striking out all of section 3 and inserting the following:
'See. A-3. Effective date. This Part takes effect July 1,2027.'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 1 by striking out all of subsection 7 (page 5, lines
21 to 27 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
'7. With the exception of a commissioner or deputy commissioner of the Department
of Health and Human Services or a director or deputy director or associate director of the
Office of Child and Family Services, an employee of the Department of Child and Family
Services who was an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services
immediately prior to the effective date of this Act retains all the employee's rights,
privileges and benefits, including sick leave, vacation and seniority, provided under the
Civil Service Law or collective bargaining agreements, Any person who has been
employed as a commissioner or deputy commissioner of the Department of Health and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^
COMMHTEE AMENDMENT " f\ " to S.P. 217, L.D. 555
Human Services or a director or deputy director or associate director of the Office of Child
and Family Services at any time since January 1, 2019 may not be employed by the
Department of Child aud Family Seryices. The Department of Administrative and
Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources shall provide assistance to the affected
departments and shall assist with the orderly implementation of this subsection.'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 1 in subsection 8 in the first line (page 5, line 28 iti
L.D.) by striking out the following: "2026" and inserting the following; '2027'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 1 in subsection 8 in the 2nd line (page 5, line 29 in
L.D.) by inserting after the following: "report" the following; 'with a transition plan'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 3 by striking out the tast two sentences (page 6,
lines 8 to 11 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 'By November 30, 2027, the
commissioner and the committee shall agree on the format and organization of Title 22-B,
By November 30,2027, the commissioner shall submit the legislation developed pursuant
to this section to the Second Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 4 in the 3rd luie (page 6, line 14 in L.D.) by striking
out the following; "2025" and inserting the following; '2026'
Amend the bill in Part B in section 4 in the 2nd to last line (page 6, line 20 in L.D.) by
striking out the following: "Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature" and inserting
the following: '133rd Legislature in 2027'
Amend the bill in Part B by inserting after section 6 the following:
'See. B-7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Child and Family Services Central Office N372
Initiative; Establishes one Department Commissioner position, one Deputy Commissioner
position, one Public Service Manager III position, 3 Public Service Manager II positions,
one Public Service Coordinator III position, 2 Public Service Coordinator II positions, 2
Public Service Coordinator I positions, one Commissioner Semces Manager position, one
Integrated Systems Manager position, 2 Staff Auditor positions, 2 Management Analyst II
positions, one Office Specialist II position, one Office Specialist I Manager Supervisor
position and one Secretary Specialist Supervisor position to staff the newly created
Department of Child and Family Services commissioner's office. This initiative also
provides the related All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 0.000 20.000
Personal Services $0 $3,313,756
AllOther $0 $2,103,521
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $5,417,277
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
Page2-l32LR0863(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^os
"A-"toS.P.217,L,D,555 C<y
COMMmBE AMENDMENT " /L-" to S.P. 217, L,D, 555
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. It changes the reporting and
effective dates from 2026 to 2027. It requires the Commissioner of Child and Family
Services to include a transition plan with the report to the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over child welfare matters regarding the establishment and
implementation of the Department of Child and Family Services. It prohibits any person
who seryed as a commissioner or deputy commissioner of the Department of Health and
Human Services or as a director or deputy director or associate director of the Office of
Child and Family Services between January 1, 2019 and January 6, 2027 from being
employed at the Department of Child and Family Services. It also adds an appropriations
and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page3-132LR0863(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/03/26 ^Kt.
LD 555 LR 863(02)
An Act to Create a Separate Department of Child and Family Services
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment t^t,' {^[^Sy
Committee; Health and Human Services '' ^ ^
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $5,417,277 $5,102,119 $5,183,832
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $5,417,277 $5,102,119 $5,183,832
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $5,417,277 in
fiscal year 2026-27 to establish the staff and related All Other costs for the newly created Department of Child and
Family Services, Commissioner's office.
LR0863(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1