An Act To Support Maine People in Recovery

Sec. 1. Department to create 3 new peer centers. The Department of Health and Human Services shall create 3 new peer centers in different parts of the State to coordinate and run peer support programs to help persons in recovery from drug addiction. In order to serve populations in rural parts of the State, 2 of these peer centers must be located in currently underserved areas that are outside of Maine's largest cities. Funding for each peer center must be used to support the hiring of a coordinator who shall support recovery group facilitation, peer mentoring and peer recovery resource connections. The peer centers may be coordinated and housed within existing health care settings, such as a rural health care center.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)

Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 0679

Initiative: Provides funding to create 3 new peer centers in different parts of the State to coordinate and run peer support programs to help persons in recovery from drug addiction.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17
All Other	$0	$600,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$600,000

summary

This bill provides funding for 3 new peer centers in different parts of the State to coordinate and run peer support programs to help persons in recovery from drug addiction. In order to serve populations in rural parts of the State, 2 of these peer centers must be located in currently underserved areas that are outside of Maine's largest cities. Funding for each peer center must be used to support the hiring of a coordinator who must support recovery group facilitation, peer mentoring and peer recovery resource connections. The peer centers may be coordinated and housed within existing health care settings, such as a rural health care center.