An Act to Establish Maine's Care Force to Address the State's
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1613
Sponsors: MACIAS

Legislative Document
No. 1613
H.P. 1067
House of Representatives, April 15, 2025
An Act to Establish Maine's Care Force to Address the State's 
Health Care Crisis
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 11, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MACIAS of Topsham.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BECK of South Portland, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, 
HASENFUS of Readfield, MALON of Biddeford, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, RAY of 
Lincolnville, ROEDER of Bangor, Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Maine is experiencing an essential support worker shortage, negatively 
impacting both service recipients and providers, and this shortage must be addressed as 
soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 167 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 167
MAINE'S CARE FORCE
§791. Short title
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Maine's Care Force Act."
§792. Definitions
1. Essential support worker. "Essential support worker" has the same meaning as in 
section 7401, subsection 3.
2. Participant. "Participant" means an individual enrolled in Maine's Care Force.
3. Placement site. "Placement site" means a location where an essential support worker 
is deployed, including a home, health care facility, community center or fire department.
§793. Maine's Care Force
1. Establishment.  Maine's Care Force is established within the department.
2. Maine's Care Force Fund. The Maine's Care Force Fund is established as a 
nonlapsing fund within and administered by the department to support Maine's Care Force. 
The commissioner may accept funds from any public or private source for the purposes 
described in this chapter.
3. Authority. In administering Maine's Care Force, the department shall:
A. Develop and deliver essential support worker training and certification programs;
B. Provide health care, housing and subsistence for participants;
C. Deploy essential support workers to underserved areas based on community need; 
and
D. Monitor essential support workers and provide ongoing support.
4. Eligibility. To enroll as participants in Maine's Care Force, individuals must:
A. Be at least 18 years of age;
B. Commit to a 3-year service contract; and
C. Pass a background check and meet screening criteria established by the department.
5. Training. The department shall develop and administer a training curriculum for 
participants, which must include:
A. Care of older adults, children and individuals with disabilities;
B. Physical activity and gameplay for the purpose of enhancing resilience and 
teamwork;
C. Life skills, financial literacy and English language training; and
D. Certifications in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and medication 
management.
6. Participant benefits. The department shall provide participants with the following:
A. Comprehensive health care coverage, including medical, dental and vision 
coverage;
B. Subsidized housing near placement sites, supported by monthly stipends during 
training and placement; and
C. Skills certifications.
7. Placement and support of participants.  The department shall coordinate 
placement of participants for employment in private homes, facilities and community-
based settings and shall provide ongoing mentorship and mental health resources. The 
department shall coordinate with placement sites to provide compensation to participants 
for services.
8. Funding. The department may accept and administer loans, grants or other funds or 
gifts, conditional or otherwise, in furtherance of its functions, from the Federal Government 
and from other sources, public or private.
9. Evaluation. The department shall provide for independent evaluations of Maine's 
Care Force every 5 years in order to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.
10. Reports. Beginning January 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the department shall 
submit a report to the Governor and to the joint committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters that includes:
A. The number of participants trained and placed during the prior year;
B. Retention rates of participants;
C. The results of participant satisfaction surveys; and
D. A financial statement, including expenditures and funding sources.
§794. Rules
The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to 
this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine's Care Force N967
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for the Maine's Care Force program.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$32,000,000
$32,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$32,000,000
$32,000,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes Maine's Care Force, a program within the Department of Health 
and Human Services to place individuals trained as essential support workers by the 
department in private homes, facilities and community-based settings. It provides for 
ongoing annual appropriations of $32,000,000 to support the program.