KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Maine

LD1989 • 2025

An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund

An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Marianne Moore
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund

An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund Sponsor: Senator Marianne Moore Reference committee: Health and Human Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund Sponsor: Senator Marianne Moore Reference committee: Health and Human Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR2798(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR2798(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 1989 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • S- ) 3HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
  • 5STATE OF MAINE 6SENATE 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8SECOND REGULAR SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to S.P.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-19 Governor

    Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

  2. 2026-03-10 Senate

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.

  3. 2026-03-05 House

    This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary. PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  4. 2026-02-19 Committee

    Reported Out; OTP-AM

  5. 2026-01-22 Committee

    Work Session Held

  6. 2026-01-22 Committee

    Voted; OTP-AM

  7. 2025-12-03 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund
Sponsor:
Senator Marianne Moore
Reference committee:
Health and Human Services
Governor action:
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Page 1 - 132LR2798(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
S.P. 801 - L.D. 1989
An Act to Increase Access to the Progressive Treatment Program Fund
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, progressive treatment programs are vital tools in helping individuals with
serious mental illness remain in a community setting; and
Whereas, legal fees for initiating and extending progressive treatment programs are
a barrier for many individuals; and
Whereas, the Progressive Treatment Program Fund is a dedicated fund to assist
individuals who are filing an application for a progressive treatment program with paying
for associated legal expenses; and
Whereas, the current individual cap in funding continues to result in underuse of the
fund; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect as soon as possible in order to address these
issues; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 34-B MRSA §3873-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 745, §1, is
amended to read:
2. Application of fund. The department shall use the money in the fund to reimburse
the legal costs incurred by private entities the following individuals to initiate or extend
existing progressive treatment programs in accordance with section 3873‑A: the
superintendent or chief administrative officer of a private psychiatric hospital, the director
of an ACT team, a private medical practitioner, a law enforcement officer or the legal
guardian of the patient who is the subject of an application under section 3873-A. A private
entity The department may use money in the fund to reimburse a private attorney
APPROVED
MARCH 19, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
576
PUBLIC LAW
Page 2 - 132LR2798(03)
representing an individual eligible to receive funds under this subsection. An individual
seeking reimbursement must submit to the department an itemized bill of legal costs
incurred to initiate or extend the progressive treatment program. The maximum annual
amount the department may reimburse a private entity an individual for the legal costs to
initiate a or extend an existing progressive treatment program is $800 $3,500.
Reimbursement is subject to available funds.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.