Health committee adds multiple health and family support bills to supplemental budget, including $4M for domestic violence services
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Summary
In a supplemental‑budget work session the committee moved a slate of health and family support bills into the budget, including LD 875 ($4 million for domestic violence services), LD 814 (Older Mainers Act), LD 17 46 (child dental services), LD 21 25 ($1M emergency fund for children's residential care) and others; most motions were approved by voice vote with tallies not recorded in the transcript.
The Health and Human Services Committee advanced several supplemental budget items addressing domestic violence services, older adult supports, child care and behavioral health.
Key items the committee moved into the budget include:
• LD 875 — an act to fund essential services for victims of domestic violence, fiscal note $4,000,000 annually (moved by Representative Michelle Meyer; second recorded; voice vote to advance).
• LD 814 — the Older Mainers Act, which provides funding to area agencies on aging for community‑based services, fiscal note noted at $9,750,000 per year ongoing (moved and seconded; advanced).
• LD 17 46 — an act to reduce dental disease and ensure access to preventive dental care for Maine children, including mobile dental services; fiscal notes discussed for the current and following year and previously funded positions were noted (moved and seconded; advanced).
• LD 21 25 — a one‑time $1,000,000 general fund appropriation to establish an emergency fund to sustain children's residential care facilities at risk of closing (moved by Representative Julie McCabe and advanced).
• LD 19 55 — child care affordability and early‑childhood educator stability provisions were moved into the budget; the bill retains a requirement that DHHS develop a long‑term financial stability plan and includes a $50,000,000 ongoing funding reference in the transcript.
• LD 2066 — converts a pilot childcare employment award into an ongoing program at approximately $3,122,000 per year (committee noted a divided report on staffing concerns and moved it into the budget).
• LD 721 — one‑time funding to support implementation of five certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs); advanced as previously reported and passed under emergency preamble.
• LD 1061 — an act to increase community support for families and fund prevention councils operated by the Maine Children's Trust, with a fiscal note listed at $1,500,000 annually (committee noted a revised fiscal note would be provided).
Committee members and analysts clarified fiscal notes and prior committee action on several items. Many motions were seconded and advanced by voice vote; the transcript records committee approval but does not include roll‑call tallies for these motion votes.