An Act To Update the Laws Governing the Maine Veterans' Homes

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1812-D,  as enacted by PL 1987, c. 830, §1 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1867,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1993, c. 205, §1, is amended to read:

§ 1867. Distance restriction on placement of Medicaid recipients

The department may make Medicaid reimbursement for a nursing facility contingent on a maximum distance between a patient's home and the nursing facility if the maximum distance is not more than 60 miles; except that the distance restriction may not be applied to a the Maine Veterans' Home Homes.

Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §509, sub-§2, ¶G,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 175, §3, is further amended to read:

Sec. 4. 37-B MRSA §601,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 652, Pt. A, §59, is amended to read:

§ 601. Homes established; purpose

There must be public homes for veterans in Maine known as "Maine Veterans' Homes." In addition to the existing 120-bed home located in Augusta, a 120-bed home located in Scarborough, a home not to exceed 40 beds located in Caribou, a home located in Bangor not to exceed 120 beds, of which 40 beds are dedicated to patients with dementia, and a home located in South Paris not to exceed 90 beds, of which 30 beds are dedicated to patients with dementia, may be constructed if federal Veterans' Administration funds are available to meet part of the costs of each facility for construction or operation. In addition, a home located in Machias not to exceed 60 beds may be constructed if federal Veterans' Administration funds or funds from any other state, federal or private source are available to meet part of the costs of the facility for construction or operation, except that the Machias home may not begin operation prior to July 1, 1995 and the construction and funding of the Machias home may not in any way jeopardize the construction, funding or financial viability of any other home. Homes" for the purpose of providing long-term care, support and related services to eligible veterans and family members of veterans. The Maine Veterans' Homes also are authorized to provide nonnursing facility care and services to Maine veterans if approved by appropriate state and federal authorities. The Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes shall plan and develop the Machias home and any nonnursing facility care and services using any funds available for that purpose, except for the Augusta facility's funded depreciation account. The Maine Veterans' Homes are authorized to construct community-based outpatient clinics for Maine veterans in cooperation with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and may construct and operate veterans hospice facilities, veterans housing facilities and other facilities authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes, using available funds. Any funds loaned to the Maine Veterans' Homes for operating purposes from the funded depreciation accounts of the Maine Veterans' Homes must be reimbursed from any funds received by the Maine Veterans' Homes and available for that purpose. The primary purpose of the Maine Veterans' Homes is to provide support and care for honorably discharged veterans who served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces or who served in the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces on active duty for other than training purposes.

Sec. 5. 37-B MRSA §602, first ¶,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:

The Maine Veterans' Home Homes is a body corporate. In addition to other powers granted by this chapter, the Maine Veterans' Home Homes may:

Sec. 6. 37-B MRSA §602, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 7. 37-B MRSA §602, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 8. 37-B MRSA §602, sub-§6,  as amended by PL 1991, c. 702, §2, is further amended to read:

Sec. 9. 37-B MRSA §602-A,  as enacted by PL 1987, c. 830, §2 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 10. 37-B MRSA §603,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 676, §1, is further amended to read:

§ 603. Board of trustees

The administration of the homes is vested in the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes, as authorized by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 34. The board consists of 11 members, one of whom must be the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services, ex officio, who serves without term. The Governor shall appoint the remaining trustees, who must be honorably discharged war veterans. One member must be a woman. One member must be appointed from and represent each of the largest veterans' organizations, not exceeding 5, that are nationally chartered and have a department in Maine. The remaining members must be appointed at large and serve staggered 3-year terms. The membership must be distributed across the State so that approximately 1/3 reside in the southern part of the State, approximately 1/3 in the central part and approximately 1/3 in the northern part. In the event of a vacancy, a successor must be appointed to complete a member's unexpired term. Each trustee continues to hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

Sec. 11. 37-B MRSA §604, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 12. 37-B MRSA §604, sub-§§6 and 7,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, are amended to read:

Sec. 13. 37-B MRSA §606,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 147, §1, is further amended to read:

§ 606. Chief executive officer

The administrator chief executive officer must be an honorably discharged veteran who shall administer the home homes in accordance with the rules, guidelines and general policies established by the board. The administrator chief executive officer serves an indefinite term, but may be removed for cause by the board. The administrator's chief executive officer's salary is set by the board. The administrator chief executive officer shall hire the necessary employees to operate the home homes and, whenever possible, give preference in hiring to war veterans. These employees are not deemed employees of the State.

Sec. 14. 37-B MRSA §607,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 395, Pt. P, §2, is further amended to read:

§ 607. Admission

Veterans desiring admission to the home homes must apply on forms prescribed by the administrator chief executive officer. The administrator chief executive officer shall grant admission only to veterans who were residents of Maine at the time of their entry into the United States Armed Forces or who are residents of Maine at the time of application, and to the spouses, widows or widowers of eligible veterans, provided that as long as suitable facilities are available. Parents of armed services members who are killed in action or die as a consequence of wounds received in battle are also eligible, as so called so-called "gold star" parents, for admission. Admission must be granted when provisions of the rules governing private payment, Medicare and Medicaid eligibility to entitled persons are met.

Sec. 15. 37-B MRSA §608,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is repealed.

Sec. 16. 37-B MRSA §610, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 395, Pt. P, §4 and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:

All funds received by the Maine Veterans' Home Homes, including federal Veterans' Administration stipend funds, must be held in a permanent fund to be used as required by the administrator chief executive officer for the support and maintenance of the homes. A percentage of these funds approved by the board of trustees must be placed in reserve for capital improvement expenditures. The board of trustees shall operate the homes, when constructed, as self-liquidating projects until all the bonds issued as provided by this chapter are retired. Any funds received in excess of that necessary for the support and maintenance of the homes, the capital reserve fund and funds necessary for retirement of any outstanding bonds or indebtedness as those payments become due at the end of each fiscal year must be transferred to the Treasurer of State where they are to be applied as credits to the General Fund. The Department of Health and Human Services may not modify its principles of reimbursement for long-term care facilities to specifically exclude reimbursement for the depreciation of the assets created with federal or state grants.

Sec. 17. 37-B MRSA §610-B,  as amended by PL 1999, c. 288, §2 and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 18. 37-B MRSA §611,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:

§ 611. Reports

The board shall make submit an annual report to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs. This report shall must contain an accounting for all money received and expended a copy of audited financial statements, statistics on members who resided in the home homes during the year, recommendations to the Governor and Legislature and such other matters as the board deems pertinent. The administrator, subject to approval of the board, shall compile a biennial budget on the forms and at the time required of other state agencies.

Sec. 19. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, chapter 11, in the chapter headnote, the words "Maine veterans' home" are amended to read "Maine veterans' homes" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.

summary

This bill updates the laws governing the Maine Veterans' Homes and repeals outdated provisions. It removes references to specific veterans' home locations. It increases the borrowing authority of the Maine Veterans' Homes from $15,000,000 to $50,000,000. It repeals a requirement that the Maine Veterans' Homes develop and implement a geriatric training program. It changes the title of the position of the person who administers the homes from administrator to chief executive officer. It repeals a requirement relating to payment of costs by veterans admitted to the homes. It repeals a requirement that excess funds be transferred to the General Fund. It repeals a provision relating to the use of stipend funds. It makes changes to an annual reporting requirement. It also makes technical changes to provide consistent reference to the Maine Veterans' Homes.