Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §§258 and 259 are enacted to read:

§258.__Office of Eating Disorders

There is established within the Bureau of Health, the Office of Eating Disorders, referred to in this section as the "office."__ The office is responsible for researching, planning, facilitating, coordinating and developing information and resources on eating disorders statewide.

1.__Duties.__The office shall conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify unmet prevention needs and shall oversee the assessment of training programs conducted under subsection 2.__ The office shall compile and disseminate to the public information on eating disorders and coordinate the advertisement and promotion of programs aimed at the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

2.__Collaboration.__With regard to information and resources for training and education on eating disorders, the office shall work with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Education to:

A.__Conduct a comprehensive assessment of training available to health professionals and the public in this State;

B.__Create a data base of literature on prevention, early detection and treatment;

C.__Develop training strategies and opportunities for community-based support group facilitators;

D.__Offer technical assistance to community-based support groups;

E.__Explore methods of augmenting curricula in health profession programs in postsecondary educational institutions in this State;

F.__Organize a statewide clinical training conference;

G.__Identify agencies and programs that serve at-risk youth and adults for the purposes of training on prevention, early detection and referral strategies; and

H.__Study the funding and creation of treatment options to provide for unmet prevention needs.