HP0204, LD 271, item 2, ‘An Act To Facilitate a Service Referral Program for Veterans in Maine’

Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:

‘An Act To Facilitate a Service Referral Program for Veterans in Maine’

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:

‘Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §503, sub-§7, ¶¶D and E, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. A, §3, are amended to read:

D. Attendance by bureau personnel at events organized for and by veterans that, as determined by the director, facilitate the objectives of this subsection; and

E. Establishing benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of marketing and outreach efforts . ; and

Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §503, sub-§7, ¶F is enacted to read:

F. Providing support to the community-based veteran service referral program as described in subsection 9.

Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §503, sub-§9 is enacted to read:

9. Service referral program. The director shall implement a program that provides resources to state agencies, quasi-governmental organizations, local government service providers and private organizations that provide assistance or services to individuals who may be veterans. "Local government service providers" includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, libraries and town clerks. "Private organizations" includes, but is not limited to, hospitals and facilities that provide health care services, churches and food pantries. The program must provide access to materials on the bureau's publicly accessible website that provide information regarding services provided by the State, the Federal Government or other organizations specifically designed to assist veterans. The director must provide written materials to the state agency, quasi-governmental agency, local government service provider or private organization with a checklist of questions to ask an individual seeking services or assistance that may identify the individual as a veteran, including the question, "Have you or a member of your family ever served in the military?" Any written materials or literature required by this subsection must also be made available on the bureau's publicly accessible website. The director may use materials provided by another state or developed by an organization that has implemented a service referral program similar to the program described by this subsection.’

SUMMARY

This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. It requires the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to establish a program to support a community-based veteran service referral program. The program provides written and Internet-based materials and literature to state agencies, quasi-governmental agencies, local government service providers and private organizations, including a checklist of questions the service provider should ask an individual seeking assistance, including "Have you or a member of your family ever served in the military?" The materials must also include a comprehensive list of services for which a veteran may be eligible.

FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED

(See attached)

HP0204 LD 271	Session - 128th Maine Legislature C "A", Filing Number H-406, Sponsored by		LR 1963 Item 2
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