Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study Oversight and Funding Structures for Recovery Residences and Resident Protections

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1973
H.P. 1317 House of Representatives, May 13, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study Oversight and
Funding Structures for Recovery Residences and Resident
Protections
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ROLLINS of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: COLLINS of Sidney, DHALAC of South Portland, HASENFUS of
Readfield, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, SAYRE of Kennebunk, Senators: RENY of Lincoln,
TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland.

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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, the study required by this legislation must be initiated before the 90-day
4 period expires in order for the study to be completed and a report to be submitted to the
5 Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in time for submission of
6 suggested legislation to the next legislative session; and
7Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
8 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
9 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
10 therefore, be it
11Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Study
12 Oversight and Funding Structures for Recovery Residences and Resident Protections,
13 referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
14Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
15 353, the commission consists of 15 members as follows:
16 1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, including a
17 member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
18 2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
19 House of Representatives, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest
20 number of seats in the Legislature;
21 3. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee;
22 4. The Director of the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future or the director’s
23 designee;
24 5. The following 5 members, appointed by the President of the Senate:
25 A. A current or former resident of a recovery residence;
26 B. A person who was evicted, discharged or denied housing within a recovery residence
27 due to the use of prescribed medication;
28 C. An owner or house manager of a recovery residence certified by a state affiliate of
29 the National Alliance for Recovery Residences;
30 D. An owner or house manager of a recovery residence not certified by a state affiliate
31 of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences; and
32 E. A member with experience in recovery residences or support services; and
33 6. The following 4 members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
34 Representatives:
35 A. A representative of a statewide recovery residence association;
36 B. A representative from a municipality within which there is a recovery residence that
37 has more than 25 beds;
38 C. A representative of an organization advocating for individuals with substance use
39 disorder; and
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1 D. A representative of an organization with expertise in tenant rights or housing
2 protections for individuals with disabilities or substance use disorder.
3Sec. 3. Chairs; quorum. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the
4 Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House of Representatives member is
5 the House chair of the commission. A quorum of the commission consists of at least 8
6 members and is required to begin a meeting of the commission or to hold a vote.
7Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all
8 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
9 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
10 Council once all appointments have been made. After appointment of all members, the
11 chairs of the commission shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30
12 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments
13 have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant
14 authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business.
15Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall conduct a study to:
16 1. Evaluate options and make policy recommendations for managing general assistance
17 costs in recovery residences, including the possibility of expanding or developing new
18 state-funded subsidy programs;
19 2. Evaluate alternative models of oversight structure for recovery residences, including
20 voluntary certification, mandatory certification or licensure, and determine the most
21 appropriate oversight structure for recovery residences in this State;
22 3. Evaluate and make recommendations with respect to policies governing the use of
23 prescribed medications in recovery residences, such as medication-assisted treatment and
24 medical cannabis, with consideration for federal protections under the federal Fair Housing
25 Act, 42 United States Code, Chapter 45 and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of
26 1990;
27 4. Review the standards and certification requirements for recovery residences
28 maintained by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and provide to the National
29 Alliance for Recovery Residences recommendations to improve those standards and
30 requirements, which may include recommendations related to appropriate residence size,
31 staff-to-resident ratios, staff training and compensation and fair wages; and
32 5. Consider and make recommendations on any additional topics related to the
33 operation of recovery residences that arise during the commission's work.
34Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
35 necessary staffing services to the commission, except that the Legislative Council staff
36 support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
37Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commission
38 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
39 legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. After
40 reviewing the report, the committee may report out legislation related to the report to the
41 Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
42Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
43 takes effect when approved.
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1SUMMARY
2 This resolve establishes the Commission to Study Oversight and Funding Structures
3 for Recovery Residences and Resident Protections. The commission is required to evaluate
4 various policies and industry standards and make policy recommendations with respect to
5 the following: the use of general assistance and the possible expansion or development of
6 new state-funded subsidy programs for use at a recovery residence; alternative models of
7 oversight structure for recovery residences, including voluntary certification, mandatory
8 certification or licensure; and policies related to the use of prescribed medications in
9 recovery residences.
10 The commission is composed of 15 members, including Legislators, the Commissioner
11 of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee, the Director of the Office
12 of Policy Innovation and the Future or the director's designee and various other members
13 who have experience with recovery residences, advocating for individuals with substance
14 use disorder or expertise in tenant rights or housing protections for persons with disabilities
15 or substance use disorder.
16 No later than December 3, 2025, the commission is required to submit to the Joint
17 Standing Committee on Health and Human Services a report that includes the commission's
18 findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation. The committee may
19 report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
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