An Act Regarding the Statewide Homeless Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4323, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Emergency contact information. The department shall collect from each municipality emergency contact information for use by municipal residents in applying for assistance under this section. The department shall forward the municipal emergency contact information periodically to the statewide 2-1-1 telephone number designated pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7108.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5047, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:
1. Membership; chair. The council consists of 11 13 members appointed as follows:A. Six members appointed by the Governor, 2 from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils;
B. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority;
C. Three members appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, one from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils; and
D. One member representing the Office of the Governor, who serves as the chair . ;
E. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee; and
F. The Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner's designee.
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:
6. Assistance to homeless. In cooperation with the state authority, identify the resources available to and ways to increase access to services 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; and
Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:
7. Review, monitor and implement plans. On an annual basis, review and comment on plans submitted pursuant to Title 34-B, section 1221 , and propose amendments and updates to and implement a plan to end homelessness . ; and
Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8. Advise departments. Advise the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services on issues related to homelessness and other issues related to the duties of the council.
summary
This bill is submitted by the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services after receipt of the report from the Statewide Homeless Council pursuant to Resolve 2007, chapter 131. The bill amends the Statewide Homeless Council laws to add as members the Commissioner of Corrections and the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and to add as a duty advising the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to collect from each municipality emergency contact information for use by municipal residents in applying for assistance and to forward the municipal emergency contact information periodically to the statewide 2-1-1 telephone number designated pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 7108.