An Act to Stabilize Residential Treatment Capacity for Children
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1745
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, MOORE
Amends: 22 MRSA §8111

Legislative Document
No. 1745
H.P. 1163
House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Stabilize Residential Treatment Capacity for Children 
and Youth in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, DEBRITO of Waterville, DUCHARME of Madison, 
JAVNER of Chester, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, STOVER of Boothbay, Senator: 
TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §8111 is enacted to read:
§8111.  Closure notice requirements for children's residential care facilities
After October 1, 2025, the department shall notify the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters whenever a 
children's residential care facility ceases to operate no later than 2 weeks after the facility 
has ceased operations.  The notification to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters must include information about 
the facility, including but not limited to the name of the facility, the services provided, the 
number of beds, the number of employees, the stated reasons for closure and a de-identified 
summary of the transition and discharge plan for the children who were in the facility at 
the time of closure.  The notification must also include a description of any actions taken 
by the department to prevent the closure.
Sec. 2.  Provider engagement and needs assessment.  The Department of Health 
and Human Services shall convene a stakeholder group of child residential treatment 
providers to identify the short-term and long-term staffing and resources needs to ensure 
the sustainability of child residential treatment providers.  The department shall submit a 
report, no later than December 3, 2025, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters with its findings, a needs 
assessment and recommendations.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters is authorized to report out legislation 
related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
Sec. 3.  Out-of-state and emergency department costs analysis.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall assess the costs associated with children 
and youth with long stays in hospital emergency departments and out-of-state placements 
of children and youth with behavioral health care needs or developmental disabilities.  For 
calendar years 2023 and 2024, the department shall provide information regarding children 
and youth with long stays in hospital emergency departments and out-of-state placements, 
including the following:
1. The total number of children and youth impacted;
2. The average cost of a stay or placement; and
3. The total cost to the State.
No later than December 3, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters with the findings from the cost analysis.  The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters is authorized to 
report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd 
Legislature.
Sec. 4.  Aftercare services payment model; attempts; below bachelor's 
degree level qualifications.  No later than December 3, 2025, the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, 
Chapter III, Section 97, Private Non-Medical Institution Services, Appendix D to establish 
a payment model for aftercare services attempts on a per member, per month basis.  The 
payment model must include travel costs and must require minimum standards for service 
delivery attempts, with a maximum of 2 reimbursable unsuccessful delivery attempts per 
case.  The department shall amend the rules to allow for delivery of aftercare services by 
staff who have qualifications below a bachelor's degree but have experience with the 
family, as long as the family receiving the service provides consent.
Sec. 5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Office of Behavioral Health Z199
Initiative: Provides one-time funding to establish an emergency fund to stabilize children's 
residential care facility providers in danger of closing a facility or closing beds in a facility.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$1,000,000
$0
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$1,000,000
$0
SUMMARY
This bill does the following.
1. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to notify the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
whenever a children's residential care facility closes.  The notification must include the 
name of the facility, the services provided, the number of beds and employees and the 
reasons for closure.  The notification must be within 2 weeks of closure.
2. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a stakeholder 
group of child residential treatment providers to identify the short-term and long-term 
staffing and resources needs to ensure the sustainability of child residential treatment 
providers and report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters. 
3. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to assess the costs 
associated with children and youth with long stays in hospital emergency departments and 
out-of-state placements of children and youth with behavioral health care needs or 
developmental disabilities and submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters.
4. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules in 
Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 97, Private Non-Medical 
Institution Services, Appendix D, no later than December 3, 2025, to establish a payment 
model for aftercare services attempts on a per member, per month basis.  The payment 
model must include travel costs and require minimum standards for service delivery 
attempts, with a maximum of 2 reimbursable unsuccessful delivery attempts per case.  The 
rules must also allow for delivery of aftercare services by staff who have qualifications 
below a bachelor's degree but have experience with the family, as long as the family 
provides consent.
5. It provides funding of $1,000,000 to establish an emergency sustainability fund to 
stabilize child residential treatment providers in danger of closing a facility or closing beds 
in a facility.