CHAPTER 552
H.P. 660 - L.D. 913
An Act to Provide Additional Operating Funds for Homeless Shelters
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §5042, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §82 and affected by §83, is further amended to read:
1. Membership. The Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Opportunities consists of 21 12 people appointed as follows:
A. The commissioners, a deputy commissioner or their designees an associate commissioner of each of the following departments:
(1) The Department of Human Services;
(2) The Department of Labor;
(3) The Department of Corrections; and
(4) The Department of Education;
(5) The Department of Economic and Community Development;
(6) The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; and
(7) The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources;
B. The director or deputy director of:
(1) The Maine State Housing Authority;
C. Five Three persons appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
(1) One member to represent a community action agency;
(2) One member to represent a nonprofit agency providing shelter to the homeless; and
(3) One member to represent a nonprofit housing development corporation;
(4) One member to represent municipalities; and
(5) One member to represent low-income people; and
D. Eight Four persons appointed by the Governor, at least 4 3 of whom must be chosen from a list of nominations provided by a statewide coalition for the homeless to represent homeless and formerly homeless people and low-income tenants.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5044, as amended by PL 1991, c. 610, §19, is further amended to read:
The interagency task force shall advise the state authority with respect to the implementation of this chapter and the development of affordable housing. The task force shall:
1. Assist in the development of affordable housing plan. Assist the state authority with the development of the affordable housing plan under subchapter I;
2. Make recommendations. Make recommendations to the state authority, the Governor and the Legislature with respect to policies, programs and funding under this chapter;
3. Review programs and policies. Review and examine the plan, programs, policies and funding to determine their effectiveness. The task force shall provide the findings of its review to the persons and organizations set forth in subsection 2;
4. Serve as coordinator of information. Serve as a coordinator of information and communication among state agencies and among the state, municipal and private sectors with respect to this chapter; and
5. Assistance to homeless. In cooperation with the state authority, identify the resources available to the homeless and persons with special needs, identify the gaps in delivery services to this population and make recommendations concerning the policies and programs serving this population.
Sec. 3. Study. The Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Opportunities shall study and provide recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor by December 1, 1997 on:
A. How best to provide affordable housing and homeless shelter services to those homeless persons with mental illness or substance abuse problems; and
B. The future role and responsibilities, if any, of the interagency task force.
The study must include an inventory of the current safety and health requirements, licenses and permits applicable to homeless shelters, including shelters for families, adolescents, adults and victims of domestic violence.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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