Resolve, To Study Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this resolve directs the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to meet to review the alignment of allocations from the Fund for a Healthy Maine with the State's current public health care and preventive health priorities and goals; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; 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. Study established. Resolved: That the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," shall study allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine as required in this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 2. Convening of committee. Resolved: That the chairs of the committee shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee for the purposes of this resolve no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 3. Meetings. Resolved: That the committee may meet for the purposes of this resolve only when the Legislature is not in regular or special session. The committee is authorized to meet up to 4 times to accomplish its duties; and be it further

Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall review the alignment of allocations from the Fund for a Healthy Maine, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1511, with the State's current public health care and preventive health priorities and goals. The committee shall gather information and data from public and private entities as necessary to:

1. Identify or review the State's current public health care and preventive health priorities and goals;

2. Identify or review strategies for addressing priorities and goals and potential effectiveness of those strategies;

3. Assess the level of resources needed to properly pursue the strategies identified in subsection 2;

4. Make recommendations for how Fund for a Healthy Maine funds should be allocated to most effectively support the State's current public health and preventive health priorities, goals and strategies; and

5. Make recommendations for processes to be used to ensure that Fund for a Healthy Maine allocations stay aligned with the State's health priorities and goals; and be it further

Sec. 5. Cooperation. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide information and data to the committee as necessary for its work; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2, 2015, the committee shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.