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

Whereas,  substance use disorder is a crisis in Washington County requiring a systems approach to combat the issue; and

Whereas,  a pilot project in Washington County developed without the need for state general funds must be evaluated and provide data allowing for replication in other rural areas of the State; 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. Washington County Substance Use Disorder Pilot Project established. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a Washington County Substance Use Disorder Pilot Project, referred to in this resolve as "the pilot project," to develop a systems approach to providing services in a rural area for residents of Washington County with substance use disorder through helping to coordinate service needs among organizations and providers to help bridge any gaps in services and ultimately assisting individuals in accessing treatment and recovery services when they are ready. The department shall work with Healthy Acadia as the lead agency in Washington County for developing the pilot project. The department shall provide advice and assistance to Healthy Acadia in applying for federal grant funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to fund the pilot project, including any requests for proposals required by this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 2. Telephone system. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall work with Healthy Acadia to establish a central coordinating telephone system located in Washington County no later than October 1, 2018. The department may expand an existing hotline or use some other strategy to establish the telephone system. The telephone system must be staffed at all times so that it is available at any time to any person in Washington County. The telephone system must be made widely available to organizations in Washington County, including law enforcement, medical and emergency personnel, public officials, educational staff and members of the public, to connect those in need of substance use disorder treatment with counseling, referral services, recovery coaches and other related assistance. Telephone system staff answering the telephone calls must be qualified to provide counseling in addition to referral services. The department and the coordinating council established pursuant to section 3 shall develop a system that coordinates the Washington County telephone system with the State's 2-1-1 system to ensure maximum access for any person who calls the telephone system; and be it further

Sec. 3. Washington County Coordinating Council. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall work with Healthy Acadia to establish and support a Washington County Coordinating Council consisting of up to 15 members representing persons and organizations in Washington County and surrounding areas involved in substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery, including a representative from Healthy Acadia as lead agency; a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services; members of organizations representing health care, including primary care, emergency care, hospitals, mental health agencies and providers of substance use disorder treatment, including faith-based treatment; members of law enforcement, including county jails; organizations involved in education, prevention and advocacy; a person involved in the local business community; and persons in recovery living in the area. The council shall choose a chair to preside over meetings and it shall meet at least once every 2 months. The Department of Health and Human Services shall work with Healthy Acadia to ensure that an executive assistant coordinates record keeping and meetings and other administrative tasks. The council shall coordinate services in the pilot project, including access to the telephone system established pursuant to section 2 and accuracy of information relating to services, medication-assisted treatment, detoxification, residential and other treatment services, peer recovery and coaching services, education programs in schools, pain and chronic disease self-management classes, jail treatment programs and other programs as well as tracking barriers to treatment and recovery and facilitating system improvements to reduce or eliminate identified barriers; and be it further

Sec. 4. Recovery coaching. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish and support recovery coaching services in Washington County. A coordinator shall assist in developing, training and establishing recovery coaches who provide volunteer services around Washington County, including ensuring that recovery coaches are connected to persons in treatment and recovery, including through the telephone system established pursuant to section 2, and that recovery coaches are available at all times, and in keeping track of the system of recovery coaches. The department and coordinator shall endeavor to provide assistance to volunteers such as recruiting, training, transportation assistance, facilitating connections to community organizations and other assistance; and be it further

Sec. 5. Evaluation program. Resolved: That by June 30, 2019 the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish and report baseline and recovery outcome measures to be used in evaluating the pilot project. To the extent required and supported by federal grant funding, the department shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot project. The department, in conjunction with the coordinating council established pursuant to section 3, shall report the findings of the evaluation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than March 1, 2021. The committee may report out legislation related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.

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