Rep. Anne Perry

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.2 million for each of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years to fund support services for a transitional housing program in Portland. The money is designated to help individuals experiencing homelessness who also have medical, mental health, or substance use needs by providing low-barrier shelter, case management, and daily living assistance. These funds are intended to supplement existing MaineCare program funding and are administered through the Department of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program to change eligibility requirements and funding limits. It requires participants to live in the state and serve its residents for at least three years, rather than just serving residents. The program will reduce the number of eligible applicants from 100 to 25 per year while maintaining a $20,000 loan repayment cap per person. The legislation also authorizes $500,000 in state funds for each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to support these repayments.

Maddy summaryThis bill assists nursing homes in Maine by adjusting how the state calculates financial penalties and reimbursement rates related to facility bed management. It specifically allows nursing facilities to voluntarily reduce their licensed bed count without incurring occupancy penalties and ensures that costs for medical directors are included in reimbursement calculations. Additionally, the legislation removes a requirement to treat computer and cloud-based software costs as fixed expenses for reimbursement purposes. The bill also authorizes funding for a new part-time office associate position within the Department of Health and Human Services to handle increased administrative responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amendment expands funding for rural health care in Maine to include supporting clinical rotations for physician assistant students. It also directs the state Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize distributing these funds to health professional shortage areas and medically underserved populations. These changes aim to address workforce gaps in rural regions by training more physician assistants and ensuring resources reach the most critical communities.

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 expands tuition waiver eligibility for former foster care residents in Maine by removing the requirement that they must sign a voluntary extended care agreement to qualify. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services inform eligible individuals aged 18 to 23 about the option to enter such an agreement, but participation in that agreement is no longer a condition for receiving the waiver. The legislation also allocates state funds to cover tuition for an additional 20 eligible students annually at the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases support for the Community Forestry Fund to help municipalities manage ash tree disease and replace affected trees. It establishes a permanent funding stream of $500,000 annually from the state's General Fund to provide grants for these efforts. Additionally, the legislation makes a full-time entomologist position permanent to offer technical and educational assistance on forest pests and diseases. The bill also allows the fund to accept money from public or private sources to further its goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Maine to issue up to $50,000,000 in bonds to fund capital improvements for nonprofit arts and cultural facilities. The funds would be distributed through the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council to support upgrades and construction projects for these organizations across the state. Before the money can be spent, the bill must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum held after its passage. If approved, the bonds would be repaid over a maximum of 10 years using state funds, with any leftover money eventually used to pay off other state debts.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to expand behavioral health services for children and adults involved in the child welfare system, with a specific focus on rural areas. To achieve this, the department must offer grants or incentives to providers to encourage them to serve these families and establish a reimbursement method for coordinating care. The legislation appropriates $500,000 for each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to fund these grants and incentives.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority to create a rental subsidy program specifically for homeless students, replacing the original plan to establish a housing voucher system. The program is designed to provide financial assistance directly to homeless students or their guardians to help secure housing, with special provisions for minors who lack adult family members to arrange accommodation. To implement this, the Authority must coordinate with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services and report progress to the Legislature by January 15, 2024. The legislation also allocates $2 million in state funding for each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to support these subsidies.