118th Legislature - Laws Relating to Elder and Adult Services

Laws Relating to Elder and Adult Services
Enacted by the Second Regular and Second Special Sessions
of the 118th Legislature
Other Aging Related Legal Links

Note: Emergency measures are effective on the date signed by the Governor.
Unless otherwise indicated, effective date for non-emergency measures:

June 30, 1998 is the effective date for:

July 9, 1998 is the effective date for:

Copies of all laws in this list are available from the Engrossing Department in Room 126 in the State House,(207) 287-1649. Call Betty Forsythe at the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services with questions, (207) 624-5335.

The Laws of Maine as enacted during the Second Regular Session and the Second Special Session of the 118th Legislature are now available on-line. The Laws of Maine for the entire 118th Legislature may be accessed either through the Maine Legislature home page by clicking on "Maine Laws" and then on "Laws of Maine" or by going through the "Publications" page which is found at the Revisor of Statutes home page (http://www.state.me.us/legis/ros/homepage.htm). As always, we would appreciate any questions or suggestions you may have for improvement of the quality of the access to this information.

Edward A. Charbonneau IV
Legislative Attorney
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Maine Legislature

LD#	Public Law #	Title
1848	Ch. 792	An Act to Create the Consumer Health Care Division within the Bureau of Insurance - Appropriates $273,040 for FY 99 from other special revenue for division, among other things, to: maintain a toll free number; provide information about health care options and coverage; assist enrollees to understand their rights and responsibilities; provide information on health care plan performance; provide assistance to enrollees with complaints; collect and disseminate data; and act as resource in policy and program development for protection of consumer rights.
2023	P & S Ch. 85	An Act to Restore Services to Maine's Elderly - Appropriates for FY 99 $400,000 for supportive services to residents of low and moderate income assisted living in Eastern and Northern Maine; and $150,000 to go to the Area Agencies on Aging for priority social services for home support.
2057	ONTP*	An Act to Enhance Home-based Care Services for Maine's Elderly -* Provisions were included in the Governor's supplemental budget bill LD 1950, Chapter 643, which appropriated for FY 98 $150,000 for homemaker services and $395,700 for Home Based Care (HBC)and for FY 99 $600,000 for homemaker services; $3,000,000 for HBC; $546,000 for Consumer Directed HBC; $26,390 for Adult Day Care and $84,000 for Alzheimer's respite services.
2060	Ch. 734 - takes effect 7/1/98	An Act Regarding Personal Care Assistance Services - Emergency - Moves the Consumer Directed HBC program and the $2,409,149 to support it from the Department of Labor to the Department of Human Services; adds two additional consumers of independent living services, one of whom must be a consumer of consumer directed HBC, to the Long-term Care Steering Committee; and requires a study and report on reimbursement rates for PCA services and on the transition.
2122	Ch. 665	An Act to Support the Long-term Care Steering Committee - Gives the committee permission to conduct regional hearings and changes members' reimbursement to Legislative Per Diems only ($55/day). It excludes travel expenses.
2152	Ch 795	An Act Regarding the Medicaid Program - Includes the Medicaid buy-in for adults with disabilities who work. Provides $445,236.
2177	ONTP	An Act to Require Alternate Sources of Power for Elderly Housing
2207	Resolve Ch 120	Resolve, Establishing the Task Force to Study the Need for an Ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation andSubstance Abuse Services - Sets up a task force and requires a report by 12/15/98. Task force consists of Commissioners of DHS and DMH,MR, SAS and 9 others representing Joint Standing Committee on Health & Human Services, children, elderly people, low-income families, persons with developmental disabilities, persons with mental illness, consumers of substance abuse services, Medicaid Ombudsman and Long-term Care Ombudsman Program.
2218	ONTP*	An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force on Improving Access to Prescription Drugs for the Elderly - *Provisions were included in the Governor's Supplemental Budget, LD 1950, Chapter 643, which require that DHS try to increase rebates from manufacturers, develop a broad education and outreach about the program and submit a waiver by 1/1/99 to HCFA to move the program into Medicaid and increase the income elibility guidelines. Also appropriated $2,000,000 for FY 99 to expand the current program.
2228	Ch 716	An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force on Registration of In-home Personal Care and Support Workers Requires annual registration of unlicensed personal care agencies; prohibits them from hiring as a PCA someone who has been annotated on the CNA register and requires a report by 1/1/99 on feasibility of setting up a system for doing criminal record checks.
2261	Ch 689 - takes effect 10/1/98	An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission to Study the Certificate of Need Laws
2279	Resolve Ch.110	Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Section 71.05(F) (11)-(13) of the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services Policy Manual, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Elder and Adult Services - Bed banking and expedited review rule received final approval.