Rep. Annie Graham

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to update its rules regarding the educational requirements for behavioral health professionals who provide services to children. The legislation sets a deadline of January 1, 2024, for these changes to take effect and allocates specific funding from state and federal sources to support the rule amendments. By adjusting the timeline and providing financial resources, the bill aims to address workforce barriers in the mental health sector without altering the core educational standards themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to provide free water testing for specific contaminants in household wells located in rural areas. It allocates $20,000 for the 2023-24 fiscal year and $40,000 for 2024-25 to cover these testing costs. Additionally, the legislation funds one full-time public health educator position to manage outreach and education efforts regarding safe drinking water. The bill also includes a correction to update a legal reference within the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous resolution to fund the design and implementation of a community-based mental health care model specifically for adolescents with co-occurring disorders in Maine. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to use a specific assertive continuing care protocol and provides $500,000 for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with an additional $1,000,000 allocated for 2024-25. The amendment also extends the deadline for reporting results from December 2025 to December 2026 and corrects the budget account used for these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Teacher Shortage Coordinator within the Maine Department of Education to help recruit teachers for areas with staffing shortages. The coordinator will work with universities to improve access to teacher training programs and support educational needs in these specific regions. To fund this role, the bill allocates money for one State Education Representative position, with costs increasing from approximately $85,000 in the 2023-24 school year to about $119,000 in 2024-25. Additionally, the coordinator is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature starting in January 2025 detailing their activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to provide additional monthly funding to SNAP households that receive less than $95 in federal benefits. Starting January 1, 2024, the state will fill the gap between a household's current benefit amount and $95 to ensure a minimum combined total of $95 for all eligible recipients. The legislation appropriates approximately $8 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year and $16 million for 2024-25 to cover these costs. Additionally, the bill requires the department to establish the necessary rules to implement this state supplement by the beginning of 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to establish security screening procedures at the Burton M. Cross Building that match those currently used in the State House. The measure directly affects the building's security operations by mandating consistent safety protocols across both state facilities. By aligning the screening methods, the legislation aims to standardize security measures for the public and staff entering the Burton M. Cross Building.

Maddy summaryThis amendment modifies a bill that bans the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and stores with pharmacies. It changes the law's start date to January 1, 2025, and requires a specific transfer of $300,900 from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to the state's general revenue by June 30, 2025. Additionally, it mandates that starting in fiscal year 2025, the state must calculate and transfer any future revenue losses caused by the tobacco ban from the same fund to the general revenue. These changes affect how the state finances the tobacco restrictions and when they take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1,830,000 from the state's General Fund to provide one-time funding for sexual assault services. The money will be transferred by the State Controller by June 30, 2025, and managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. These funds are intended to support purchased social services for victims of sexual assault.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the requirements for home care services in Maine by delaying the start date for a new assessment process until October 1, 2024. It also removes the funding allocated for fiscal year 2023-24 that was intended to pay a third-party entity to evaluate children under 21 for private duty nursing and personal care services. The changes directly affect the Department of Health and Human Services, which will no longer be required to contract for these assessments in the current fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum staffing requirements for direct-care registered nurses in Maine's critical access hospitals, which are smaller facilities serving rural areas. Starting July 1, 2025, these hospitals must assign nurses to no more than two neonatal intensive care patients, four patients in step-down or telemetry units, and five patients in medical surgical or specialty care units. The law also clarifies that staffing rules do not apply during declared state or local emergencies if the facility shows it made diligent efforts to maintain staffing despite the crisis. Additionally, the bill defines "critical access hospital" and excludes state institutions from the new staffing mandates.