LD 1426

LAW WITHOUT
  GOVERNOR'S  CHAPTER
  SIGNATURE
  119
  JANUARY 11, 2026  RESOLVES
  STATE OF MAINE
  _____
  IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
  _____
  H.P. 935 - L.D. 1426
  Resolve, to Expand Child Assertive Community Treatment
   Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
    Whereas, Maine is experiencing significant challenges in providing timely services
to children with behavioral health challenges; and
    Whereas, services for children with severe behavioral health challenges are especially
scarce; and
    Whereas, assertive community treatment is an evidence-based intervention effective
at keeping people with severe behavioral health challenges in the community setting and
out of institutional settings; and
    Whereas, Maine currently has only one child assertive community treatment team in
the State; and
    Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible in order to develop
the pilot program required by this legislation that addresses the scarcity of child assertive
community treatment teams and provides timely services to children with behavioral health
challenges; 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
     Sec. 1. Child assertive community treatment team. Resolved: That, by March
1, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services shall issue a request for applications
for a grant to establish a pilot program to develop one child assertive community treatment
team to serve the Lewiston or Bangor geographic area. The request for applications must
require the awardee of the grant to use workforce incentives designed to attract, train and
retain child assertive community treatment staff. The department shall engage in a
competitive process to determine the awardee. The term of the contract may not exceed 2
years.
  Page 1 - 132LR1211(06)
    Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, within 90 days following the conclusion of the
pilot program under section 1, the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit
a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health
and human services matters describing the outcomes and recommendations for
continuation of the pilot program. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out
legislation related to the report to the next regular or special session after the report is
received.
    Sec. 3.    Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for child assertive community treatment services.
GENERAL FUND  2025-26  2026-27
 All Other  $0  $102,717
  __________       __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL  $0  $102,717
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND  2025-26  2026-27
 All Other  $0  $155,321
  __________       __________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL  $0  $155,321
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND  2025-26  2026-27
 All Other  $0  $744
  __________       __________
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL  $0  $744
Mental Health Services - Children Z206
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for a grant for a pilot program to develop a child
assertive community treatment team.
GENERAL FUND  2025-26  2026-27
 All Other  $0  $80,000
  __________       __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL  $0  $80,000
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS  2025-26  2026-27
  GENERAL FUND  $0  $182,717
  FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND  $0  $155,321
  FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND  $0  $744
  __________       __________
  Page 2 - 132LR1211(06)
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS  $0        $338,782
    Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.
  Page 3 - 132LR1211(06)