§1342. Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program
1.
Grant program established.
The Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established to fund hypodermic apparatus mitigation and collection efforts in community settings. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall administer the program, subject to available funding resources. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention may hire staff to oversee and manage the program, including but not limited to: data collection, building community partnerships or coalitions and developing public education campaigns related to the program. Subject to available funding resources, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall dispense funds on a quarterly basis to selected applicants.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
2.
Fund established.
The Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program Fund is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund for the purposes specified in this section. The fund consists of any money received as contributions, grants or appropriations from private and public sources. The fund, to be accounted for within the department, must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
3.
Eligibility.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall make grants under the program available to:
A.
Community-based organizations, including hypodermic apparatus exchange programs certified pursuant to section 1341; and
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
B.
Municipalities, including municipal health departments.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
4.
Matching funds from opioid settlement resources.
A municipality that receives opioid settlement funds and submits an application for funding under the program shall contribute matching funds from its opioid settlement allocation equal to the amount requested from the program. The matching funds must be dedicated to eligible uses as described in subsection 7.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
5.
Application process.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall develop an application process for the program that includes, but is not limited to:
A.
Criteria to demonstrate community need;
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
B.
A narrative description of the proposed project, including goals and objectives, as determined by the office;
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
C.
Budgetary requirements, projected outcomes and a data collection plan; and
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
D.
For a municipality required to provide matching funds pursuant to subsection 4, documentation of the amount and source of matching funds, including a signed attestation that the matching funds are derived from opioid settlement allocations and will be used in accordance with subsection 7.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
6.
Funding prioritization.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall give funding priority to applications that involve one or more of the following:
A.
Addressing geographic areas with a documented increase in calls for service regarding improperly discarded hypodermic apparatuses;
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
B.
A demonstrated collaborative approach involving community stakeholders; and
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
C.
Innovative or evidence-based strategies to increase access to biohazard waste disposal programming.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
7.
Use of funds.
Grant funds must be used:
A.
To purchase and install disposal boxes suitable for indoor and outdoor use in locations strategically identified to maximize use and reduce biohazard exposure risk;
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
B.
For appropriate permanent disposal of collected hypodermic apparatuses by an in-state facility in good standing with the Department of Environmental Protection and applicable compliance-related standards or certifications;
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
C.
To hire and train staff of the grantee to collect and dispose of improperly discarded hypodermic apparatuses; and
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
D.
For other innovative or evidence-based strategies designed to mitigate and prevent improper disposal of hypodermic apparatuses.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
8.
Annual report.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit a report annually to the Legislature summarizing grant program outcomes, including recommendations for improvements or additional funding needs. The reporting period begins on November 1st and ends on October 31st. The report may be included in the report under section 1341, subsection 3 or submitted at the same time annually.
[PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2025, c. 509, §2 (NEW).