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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1328
H.P. 863 House of Representatives, March 27, 2025
An Act to Create Housing and Recovery Services for LGBTQIA+
Individuals
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative OSHER of Orono.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representatives: GOLEK of Harpswell, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, MOONEN of Portland,
RANA of Bangor, SATO of Gorham, SUPICA of Bangor, Senators: BEEBE-CENTER of
Knox, TIPPING of Penobscot.
Page 1 - 132LR1337(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §20059 is enacted to read:
3§20059. Recovery residences for LGBTQIA+ individuals; fund established
41. Recovery residences for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The Maine State Housing
5 Authority shall contract for the operation of at least 3 recovery residences certified in
6 accordance with section 20057 that are led and governed by individuals in recovery from
7 substance use disorder and that identify as LGBTQIA+ and provide services to LGBTQIA+
8 individuals recovering from substance use disorder and other individuals recovering from
9 substance use disorder, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, that meets the
10 criteria established by the Maine State Housing Authority. For purposes of this section,
11 "LGBTQIA+" includes, but is not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
12 questioning, intersex and asexual.
132. Location. Of the certified recovery residences contracted pursuant to subsection 1,
14 one must be in a locality with a population of 60,000 or greater; one must be in a locality
15 with a population between 20,000 and 59,999; and one must be in a locality with a
16 population of less than 20,000.
173. Services. A certified recovery residence contracted under this section must provide
18 the following:
19 A. A central shared living and meeting space;
20 B. Recovery support services based on the needs of each resident; and
21 C. Support services specifically designed to address the unique needs of LGBTQIA+
22 individuals.
234. Staffing. Each certified recovery residence contracted under this section must be
24 staffed by at least 2 peer-to-peer support staff members who are certified in intentional peer
25 support and peer recovery coaching and who are paid at least livable wages, as defined in
26 Title 26, section 1-A.
275. Fund established. The LGBTQIA+ Recovery Residence Fund is established as a
28 nonlapsing fund within the Maine State Housing Authority to receive funds to support the
29 activities described in this section and may accept private donations. The Maine State
30 Housing Authority shall distribute funds through a competitive bid process to grantees. The
31 Maine State Housing Authority shall adopt rules establishing criteria for the competitive
32 bid process and for the distribution of funds to grantees under this subsection.
33SUMMARY
34 This bill requires the Maine State Housing Authority to contract for the operation of at
35 least 3 certified recovery residences that are led and governed by people in recovery from
36 substance use disorder that identify as LGBTQIA+ and provide services to LGBTQIA+
37 individuals recovering from substance use disorder and other individuals recovering from
38 substance use disorder, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, that meet the
39 criteria established by the Maine State Housing Authority. The bill establishes
40 requirements based on population for the location of the contracted certified recovery
41 residences and staffing requirements and establishes the LGBTQIA+ Recovery Residence
42 Fund within the Maine State Housing Authority.
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