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PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
Second Special Session of the 121st

PART A

     Sec. A-1. 22-A MRSA is enacted to read:

TITLE 22-A
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBTITLE 1
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CHAPTER 1
DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION
SUBCHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

§101. Definitions

     As used in this Title, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

     1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

     2. Department. "Department" means the Department of Health and Human Services.

     3. Seal. The department has an official seal which must be judicially noticed.

SUBCHAPTER 2
ORGANIZATION

§201. Department established

     1. Establishment. The Department of Health and Human Services is established as a cabinet-level department.

     2. Bureau and divisions. The department consists of the bureaus and divisions necessary to carry out the work of the department.

§202. Mission; guiding principles

     1. Mission. The mission of the department is to provide health and human services to the people of Maine so that all persons may achieve and maintain their optimal level of health and their full potential for economic independence and personal development. Within available funds, the department shall provide supportive, preventive, protective, public health and intervention services to children, families and adults, including the elderly and adults with disabilities. The department shall endeavor to assist individuals in meeting their needs and families in providing for the developmental, health and safety needs of their children, while respecting the rights and preferences of the individual or family.

     2. Guiding principles. The following principles are adopted to guide the department. In the performance of its duties, the department shall strive to:

§203. Programs and services of department

     The department shall, as appropriate to the individual and family and as permitted by the availability of funds, provide programs and services as specified in this section and otherwise by law.

     1. Programs and services for adults, children and families. The department shall provide adults, children and families with the following programs and services:

     2. Additional programs and services for children and families. The department shall provide children and families with additional programs and services to assist them in meeting their needs, including, but not limited to:

     3. Additional programs and services for adults. The department shall provide adults, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, with additional programs and services to assist them in meeting their needs, including, but not limited to:

     4. Delivery of programs and services. The department shall deliver programs and services through a coordinated and efficient administrative structure and an integrated delivery system that focuses on meeting the needs of individuals and families. The department shall use a combination of public personnel and contracts with private agencies to deliver programs and services.

§204. Commissioner

     The department is under the control and supervision of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, who reports directly to the Governor.

     1. Appointment. The Governor shall appoint the commissioner, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and confirmation by the Senate. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

     2. Vacancy; deputy commissioner. A vacancy in the office of the commissioner must be filled as follows.

§205. Powers and duties of commissioner

     The commissioner has all of the powers and duties necessary to carry out the mission and responsibilities of the department.

     1. Administration. The commissioner shall administer the department in accordance with the requirements of this Title and shall fulfill the duties prescribed to the commissioner by state and federal law.

     2. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this Title. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules, as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, unless otherwise specified.

     3. Employees. The commissioner may employ personnel as necessary to carry out the work of the department. All personnel of the department are under the immediate supervision, direction and control of the commissioner. Department personnel must be employed subject to the Civil Service Law, except for deputy commissioners, associate commissioners, assistant deputy commissioners, bureau directors, the director of legal affairs, regional directors, the director of Bangor Mental Health Institute and the director of Riverview Psychiatric Center.

     4. Appointments. The commissioner may appoint deputy commissioners, associate commissioners, assistant deputy commissioners, bureau directors, the director of legal affairs, regional directors, the director of Bangor Mental Health Institute and the director of Riverview Psychiatric Center, who serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. These positions are unclassified, major policy-influencing positions as specified in Title 5, sections 931 and 946-A. A bureau director appointed pursuant to this subsection must have educational qualifications and professional experience directly related to the functions of and services provided by the bureau.

     Sec. A-2. Quarterly report; rulemaking. Beginning October 1, 2004, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall provide the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters with a quarterly report that summarizes rule-making activity of the Department of Health and Human Services.

     Sec. A-3. Bureau structure; restriction. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services may not establish a bureau structure for the new department until that structure has been approved by the 122nd Legislature.

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