Sec. EEE-3. Departmental restructuring. When consideration is given to the question of departmental restructuring for the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services and the Department of Human Services during the term of the 121st Legislature, consideration must be given to the child welfare ombudsman program established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4087-A. Consideration of the ombudsman program must include a review of the organizational structures available for the program, including operation under the Executive Department, operation by a private nonprofit, a combination structure and any other options for delivering child welfare ombudsman services effectively and efficiently.

Sec. EEE-4. Child welfare 2002 initiative delay. The provisions of this Act that delay the 2002 child welfare initiative as enacted in Public Law 2001, chapter 559, Part CC do not delay the provisions of Part CC, sections 1 to 7. The provisions of this Act that delay the 2002 child welfare initiative as enacted in Public Law 2001, chapter 559, Part CC delay the applicable expenditures under Part CC, section 8.

PART FFF

Sec. FFF-1. Authorization to negotiate provider contracts FY04 and FY05.

1. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this section as "the commissioner," and any insurance company or 3rd-party administrator, referred to in this section as "the carrier," insuring or administering the state employee health plan, referred to in this section as "the plan," shall jointly negotiate agreements with hospitals participating in the carrier's provider network to reduce the expense incurred by the plan in state fiscal year 2003-04 by the amount of $18,020,851 and in state fiscal year 2004-05 by the amount of $19,728,208. In undertaking such negotiations the carrier must be deemed at all times to be the agent of the State. The commissioner and the carrier acting at the direction