H.P. 1573 - L.D. 2207
Resolve, Establishing the Task Force to Study the Need for an Ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That there is established the Task Force to Study the Need for an Ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, referred to in this resolve as the "task force"; and be it further
Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 members as follows:
1. The Commissioner of Human Services or the commissioner's designee;
2. The Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services or the commissioner's designee;
3. The following members appointed by the President of the Senate:
A. One member of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services representing the majority party;
B. One member of a statewide organization representing children;
C. One member of a statewide organization representing low-income families;
D. One member of a statewide organization representing persons with developmental disabilities;
E. One member of a statewide organization representing consumers of substance abuse services; and
F. One person representing the Medicaid Ombudsman; and
4. The following members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
A. Two members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, one representing the majority party and one representing the minority party;
B. One member of a statewide organization representing the elderly;
C. One member of a statewide organization representing persons with mental illness; and
D. One person representing the long-term care ombudsman program; and be it further
Sec. 3. Appointments. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council upon making their appointments. When the appointment of all members is complete, the Chair of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force no later than August 1, 1998. The task force shall select a chair from among its legislative members; and be it further
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall study the need for an ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. In examining this need, the task force shall examine the operation and effectiveness of current ombudsman programs, advocacy programs, offices of consumer affairs, appeals procedures and other opportunities for clients of the 2 departments and other members of the public to express their interests to the departments. The task force shall consider models for client representation in use in other states and shall make recommendations for those 2 departments; and be it further
Sec. 5. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the task force shall request staffing and clerical assistance from the Legislative Council; and be it further
Sec. 6. Reimbursement. Resolved: That the task force members who are Legislators are entitled to legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, for each day's attendance at meetings of the task force and to reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses upon application to the Legislative Council. Members who are not Legislators serve without reimbursement of any type. The Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall administer the task force's budget; and be it further
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the task force shall submit a report with any accompanying legislation to the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature by December 15, 1998; and be it further
Sec. 8. Appropriation. Resolved: That the following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this resolve.
1998-99
LEGISLATURE
Task Force to Study the Need for an Ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services
Personal Services $660
All Other 1,100
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members and miscellaneous costs, including printing, of the Task Force to Study the Need for an Ombudsman for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
LEGISLATURE ____________
TOTAL $1,760
Effective July 9, 1998, unless otherwise indicated.
| Revisor of Statutes Homepage | Subject Index | Search | Laws of Maine | Maine Legislature |
