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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1380
H.P. 902 House of Representatives, April 1, 2025
Resolve, Establishing the Study Group on Solutions to Address
Maine's Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative STOVER of Boothbay.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, CRAFTS of Newcastle, FAIRCLOTH of
Bangor, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, MCCABE of Lewiston, ROEDER of Bangor,
STROUT of Harrington.
Page 1 - 132LR1565(01)
1Sec. 1. Study group established. Resolved: That the Study Group on Solutions
2 to Address Maine's Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage, referred to in this resolve as
3 "the study group," is established.
4Sec. 2. Study group membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
5 353, the study group consists of 14 members as follows:
6 1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a
7 member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
8 2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
9 House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats
10 in the Legislature;
11 3. Five members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
12 A. One member representing the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine;
13 B. One member representing the Consumer Council System of Maine;
14 C. One member representing the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services,
15 Maine;
16 D. One member representing the Behavioral Health Community Collaborative; and
17 E. One member representing the National Association of Social Workers, Maine
18 Chapter;
19 4. Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
20 A. One member representing community mental health providers;
21 B. One member representing community substance use disorder services providers;
22 C. One member representing hospitals; and
23 D. One member representing educational institutions that offer behavioral health
24 degree tracks; and
25 5. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee.
26Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
27 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the study
28 group.
29Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of study group. Resolved: That all
30 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
31 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
32 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
33 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the study group. If 30 days or more
34 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
35 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
36 the study group to meet and conduct its business.
37Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the study group shall review the State's behavioral
38 health workforce needs and assess the feasibility of strategies and initiatives for
39 recommended changes. As part of its review, the study group shall examine:
Page 2 - 132LR1565(01)
1 1. Information on current workforce trends and challenges in the behavioral health
2 field, including, but not limited to, impact on access to behavioral health services for
3 individuals and families;
4 2. The feasibility and impact of establishing a pilot program for community behavioral
5 health teaching agencies in partnership with behavioral health providers, higher education
6 institutions and other technical assistance or training organizations similar to the program
7 established by the State of Washington;
8 3. The feasibility and impact of enhancing the State's loan repayment program for the
9 behavioral health field; and
10 4. The feasibility and impact of introducing a stipend program for behavioral health
11 students and interns.
12 Based on the information collected pursuant to this section, the study group shall
13 propose a set of recommended initiatives to enhance the behavioral health workforce in the
14 State.
15Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
16 necessary staffing services to the study group, except that Legislative Council staff support
17 is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
18Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the study group
19 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations based on the review
20 in section 5, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing
21 Committee on Health and Human Services. The Joint Standing Committee on Health and
22 Human Services is authorized to report out legislation related to the report to the Second
23 Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
24SUMMARY
25 This resolve establishes the Study Group on Solutions to Address Maine's Behavioral
26 Health Workforce Shortage, which is directed to review the State's behavioral health
27 workforce needs and assess the feasibility of strategies and initiatives for recommended
28 changes. The study group is required to submit a report and suggested legislation by
29 December 3, 2025 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, which
30 is authorized to report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of
31 the 132nd Legislature.
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