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Bill > LD1203
ME LD1203
ME LD1203An Act to Provide Grants to Schools That Contract for Behavioral and Mental Health Services
summary
Introduced
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/14/2025
05/14/2025
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Education to provide grants to school administrative units that contract for behavioral and mental health services provided by licensed behavioral and mental health service providers. The bill limits the use of funds provided through the grant program to behavioral and mental health services that are not otherwise covered or reimbursable through the MaineCare program and provides that funds must be used in a manner that does not supplant qualified and available school administrative unit behavioral and mental health staff. The bill also provides that the amounts of the grants must be based on a school administrative unit's need for clinicians and in the amount of $20,000 per clinician prior to July 1, 2027 and $25,000 per clinician beginning July 1, 2027. The bill provides funding for the grants for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a grant program within the Maine Department of Education to support school administrative units in securing behavioral and mental health services. The program will provide grants to schools that contract with licensed mental health professionals, with specific restrictions on fund usage. Grants can only be used for services not already covered by MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program) and cannot replace existing school mental health staff. The grant amount will be $20,000 per clinician before July 1, 2027, and will increase to $25,000 per clinician after that date. The bill allocates $3 million in general funds for each of the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these grants. The legislation also updates the subchapter heading in the Maine Revised Statutes to reflect the new focus on behavioral and mental health services, broadening the scope beyond the previous youth mental health first aid training approach. By providing these grants, the bill aims to help schools improve access to mental health resources for students by offsetting the cost of contracting with external mental health professionals.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (10)
Rachel Talbot Ross (D)*,
Rick Bennett (I),
Nathan Carlow (R),
Janice Dodge (D),
Henry Ingwersen (D),
Christina Mitchell (D),
Marianne Moore (R),
Kelly Noonan Murphy (D),
Joe Rafferty (D),
Peggy Rotundo (D),
Last Action
Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) (on 05/14/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1203&snum=132 |
| Fiscal Note: Text | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_132nd/fiscalpdfs/FN120301.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0492&item=1&snum=132 |
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