At the Statehouse...

The Second Regular Session of the 124th Maine Legislature
convened on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

To find your State Senator and Representative, click here.

The Second Regular Session of the 124th Maine Legislature convened on January 6. This is a challenging legislative session that will have a potentially significant impact on the autism community, those affected by other disabilities, and others of our state’s most vulnerable people. The national economic recession has continued to put great stress on state budgets, with unemployment reducing both income and sales tax revenue while causing increased need for public services.

To balance the state budget during the first session of the 124th Maine Legislature, difficult decisions forced painful cuts to achieve a $5.8 billion budget, which was $500 million less than the actual costs of existing state programs without new programs or expansions. Now during the second session of the 124th, due to the continued impact of the recession and decreased tax revenues over recent months, the State of Maine now faces a $438 million shortfall that will result in additonal cuts if revenues are not otherwise increased.

The majority of these cuts would likely come from two agencies providing essential
services to those with autism: DOE and DHHS. Significant cuts to General Purpose Aid to local school districts over two years has reportedly been proposed, and the DOE will also be proposing a major overhaul to the way the state provides special education to students (stay tuned as more information becomes available). DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey has acknowledged additional painful cuts to programs and services should be expetected.
The impact will be higher for DHHS because matching federal dollars are lost with reductions at the state level. Waiting lists of individuals needing to access services continue to grow, and legislators speak openly about concerns that the state may end up being faced with some programs being eliminated altogether.

This session also presents some opportunities. Although they may turn out to be difficult to move forward in a recessionary budget climate, we encourage you to please review the bills listed below and participate in the legislative process. Your voice could make the difference!

Please also sign-up on our home page to receive legislative action alerts via e-mail. It will be extremely important for all those who have an interest in continued quality, accessible,
consistent services to engage this session by communicating with legislators on concerns and opportunities that emerge.

Priority bills for this session include:

  • LD 425 (An Act To Require Private Insurance Coverage for Certain Services for Children with Disabilities)
  • LD 637 (An Act To Ensure Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, sponsored by Rep. Emily Cain).
  • LD 1198 (An Act To Reform Insurance Coverage To Include Diagnosis and Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, sponsored by Sen. Peter Bowman).
  • LD 1671 (An Act Making Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2011). Public hearings begin the week of January 11th and worksessions will be ongoing during session.
  • LD 1654 (An Act To Improve the Availability, Efficiency and Cost of Services for Infants, Young Children and Their Families).
  • LD 1741 (Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education).
  • ASM is reviewing several other bills of interest. Visit this webpage again for periodic updates as more information becomes available.

      To sign-up to receive e-mail alerts on Maine legislation with summaries of state bills, links to their full text, and links to contact Senators and Representatives, click here, enter your e-mail address into the sign-up box, and include "Legislative" in your interest profile.

Click here for a summary of select recent and pending Federal legislation, as well as links to details on specific bills and recently enacted laws.

Click here to return to the main Legislative page.