An Act To Promote Independent Living for People with Disabilities

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to reallocate certain federal funds currently received by the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that those departments are in alignment with the goal of allowing people with disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Under this bill, Maine programs would become more consistent with federal regulations by redirecting existing resources to fund the newly mandated 5th requirement of the independent living core services in the federal Independent Living Program, as adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Independent Living Administration. The 5th core requirement directs the provision of services to focus on 3 key areas for people with disabilities: transition from nursing homes to home and community settings; diversion from nursing homes; and transition of youths 18 to 24 years of age from school to adult living.

Possible funding streams include federal funding under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Maine's Money Follows the Person demonstration project administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, federal funding currently allocated for the Office of Child and Family Services, office of aging and disability services and office of substance abuse and mental health within the Department of Health and Human Services and funding from the Department of Education from federal funds for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 grant for special services and adult education, as well as funds allocated or appropriated by the State from General Fund or Other Special Revenue sources.