Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 270: Uniform Reporting System for Quality Data Sets, a Major Substantive Rule of the Maine Health Data Organization

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2A requires legislative authorization before major substantive agency rules may be finally adopted by the agency; and

Whereas,  the above-named major substantive rule has been submitted to the Legislature for review; and

Whereas,  immediate enactment of this resolve is necessary to record the Legislature's position on final adoption of the rule; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Adoption. Resolved: That final adoption of portions of Chapter 270: Uniform Reporting System for Quality Data Sets, a provisionally adopted major substantive rule of the Maine Health Data Organization that has been submitted to the Legislature for review pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2A, is authorized only if the rule is amended to require reporting of the results of a hospital's active surveillance culturing of high-risk patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and to clarify that the Maine Quality Forum must within 90 days of adoption of the rule establish a schedule for periodic prevalence studies.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.