Sec. 1. 34-B MRSA §1208, sub-§7 is enacted to read:

7.__Community agency staff retention.__The commissioner shall, through contracts and service agreements with community agencies, provide funding to retain qualified direct-care workers employed by community mental retardation services providers at a level commensurate with wages paid to workers employed by intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation.

Sec. 2. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

1999-00 2000-01

MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION

AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES,

DEPARTMENT OF

Mental Retardation Services - Community

All Other $693,689 $693,689

Provides funding to achieve wage parity between workers employed by community mental retardation services providers and workers employed by intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation.

Medicaid Services - Mental Retardation

All Other 2,103,334 2,105,828

Provides funding to achieve wage parity between workers employed by community mental retardation services providers and workers employed by intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation.

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL

RETARDATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

SERVICES __________ __________

TOTAL $2,797,023 $2,799,517