An Act to Establish Maine's Care Force to Address the State's Health Care Crisis

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1613
H.P. 1067 House of Representatives, April 15, 2025
An Act to Establish Maine's Care Force to Address the State's
Health Care Crisis
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MACIAS of Topsham.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BECK of South Portland, CLOUTIER of Lewiston,
HASENFUS of Readfield, MALON of Biddeford, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, RAY of
Lincolnville, ROEDER of Bangor, Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock.

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1Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3Whereas, Maine is experiencing an essential support worker shortage, negatively
4 impacting both service recipients and providers, and this shortage must be addressed as
5 soon as possible; and
6Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
7 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
8 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
9 therefore,
10Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
11Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 167 is enacted to read:
12CHAPTER 167
13MAINE'S CARE FORCE
14§791. Short title
15 This chapter may be known and cited as "the Maine's Care Force Act."
16§792. Definitions
171. Essential support worker. "Essential support worker" has the same meaning as in
18 section 7401, subsection 3.
192. Participant. "Participant" means an individual enrolled in Maine's Care Force.
203. Placement site. "Placement site" means a location where an essential support worker
21 is deployed, including a home, health care facility, community center or fire department.
22§793. Maine's Care Force
231. Establishment. Maine's Care Force is established within the department.
242. Maine's Care Force Fund. The Maine's Care Force Fund is established as a
25 nonlapsing fund within and administered by the department to support Maine's Care Force.
26 The commissioner may accept funds from any public or private source for the purposes
27 described in this chapter.
283. Authority. In administering Maine's Care Force, the department shall:
29 A. Develop and deliver essential support worker training and certification programs;
30 B. Provide health care, housing and subsistence for participants;
31 C. Deploy essential support workers to underserved areas based on community need;
32 and
33 D. Monitor essential support workers and provide ongoing support.
344. Eligibility. To enroll as participants in Maine's Care Force, individuals must:
35 A. Be at least 18 years of age;
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1 B. Commit to a 3-year service contract; and
2 C. Pass a background check and meet screening criteria established by the department.
35. Training. The department shall develop and administer a training curriculum for
4 participants, which must include:
5 A. Care of older adults, children and individuals with disabilities;
6 B. Physical activity and gameplay for the purpose of enhancing resilience and
7 teamwork;
8 C. Life skills, financial literacy and English language training; and
9 D. Certifications in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and medication
10 management.
116. Participant benefits. The department shall provide participants with the following:
12 A. Comprehensive health care coverage, including medical, dental and vision
13 coverage;
14 B. Subsidized housing near placement sites, supported by monthly stipends during
15 training and placement; and
16 C. Skills certifications.
177. Placement and support of participants. The department shall coordinate
18 placement of participants for employment in private homes, facilities and community-
19 based settings and shall provide ongoing mentorship and mental health resources. The
20 department shall coordinate with placement sites to provide compensation to participants
21 for services.
228. Funding. The department may accept and administer loans, grants or other funds or
23 gifts, conditional or otherwise, in furtherance of its functions, from the Federal Government
24 and from other sources, public or private.
259. Evaluation. The department shall provide for independent evaluations of Maine's
26 Care Force every 5 years in order to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.
2710. Reports. Beginning January 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the department shall
28 submit a report to the Governor and to the joint committee of the Legislature having
29 jurisdiction over health and human services matters that includes:
30 A. The number of participants trained and placed during the prior year;
31 B. Retention rates of participants;
32 C. The results of participant satisfaction surveys; and
33 D. A financial statement, including expenditures and funding sources.
34§794. Rules
35 The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to
36 this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
37Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
38 allocations are made.
39HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
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1Maine's Care Force N967
2 Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for the Maine's Care Force program.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $32,000,000 $32,000,000
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $32,000,000 $32,000,000
3Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
4 takes effect when approved.
9SUMMARY
10 This bill establishes Maine's Care Force, a program within the Department of Health
11 and Human Services to place individuals trained as essential support workers by the
12 department in private homes, facilities and community-based settings. It provides for
13 ongoing annual appropriations of $32,000,000 to support the program.
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