An Act To Expand Recovery Support Services Offered in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties and the Greater Bangor Region To Improve Access, Treatment and Recovery for Those Affected by Substance Use Disorder by Designating a Regional Peer-supported Recovery Center

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §20056  is enacted to read:

§ 20056.  Regional peer-supported recovery center for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and greater Bangor region

The department shall designate a peer-supported recovery center that provides recovery support services to persons with substance use disorder in Penobscot County as a regional peer-supported recovery center to provide recovery support services in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and the greater Bangor region as defined in rules adopted by the department. The department may not designate a peer-supported recovery center that was not providing recovery support services to persons with substance use disorder in Penobscot County on and before February 1, 2019 as a regional peer-supported recovery center pursuant to this section.

Sec. 2. Regional peer-supported recovery center. By November 1, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services shall contract with a regional peer-supported recovery center designated by the department under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 20056 to expand recovery support services to all areas in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and the greater Bangor region as defined in rules adopted by the department. For the purposes of this section, "recovery support services" means services that recognize recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential, including, but not limited to, safe housing, transportation, peer mentoring and coaching and assistance with and access to employment services.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 0679

Initiative: Provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a peer-supported recovery center designated by the department as a regional peer-supported recovery center under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 20056 to expand recovery support services in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and the greater Bangor region.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a regional peer-supported recovery center to expand recovery support services to all areas in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and the greater Bangor region and provides funding for the contract.