130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 1076
S.P. 344 In Senate, March 11, 2021
An Act To Support the Operations of Youth Shelters in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LIBBY of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative MORALES of South Portland and
Senators: CLAXTON of Androscoggin, DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, Representatives:
ARFORD of Brunswick, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, COREY of Windham, CRAVEN of
Lewiston, STOVER of Boothbay, TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §8101, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 179, §7, is further
3 amended to read:
4 2. Emergency children's shelter. "Emergency children's shelter" means a facility
5 that operates to receive children 24 hours a day and that limits placement to 30 90
6 consecutive days or less. For purposes of this section, the definition of "children" includes
7 a person under 21 years of age. "Emergency children's shelter" does not mean a family
8 foster home or specialized children's home. If emergency shelter is a service provided by
9 a children's residential care facility, the service is restricted to a designated physical area
10 of the facility.
11 Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §8101, sub-§4-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 179, §7, is further
12 amended to read:
13 4-A. Shelter for homeless children. "Shelter for homeless children" means a facility
14 designed to provide for the overnight lodging and supervision of children 10 years of age
15 or older for no more than 30 90 consecutive overnights. For purposes of this section, the
16 definition of "children" includes a person under 21 years of age.
17 Sec. 3. Rules for licensure of shelters for homeless children. The Department
18 of Health and Human Services shall amend its rule Chapter 8: Rules for the Licensure of
19 Shelters for Homeless Children, to allow the admission of a child into care for up to 30
20 days without first notifying the child's guardian.
21 Sec. 4. Rules for licensing of emergency shelters for children. The
22 Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rule Chapter 9: Rules for the
23 Licensing of Emergency Shelters for Children, to allow the admission of a child into care
24 for up to 30 days without the permission of the child's guardian.
25 Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
26 allocations are made.
27 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
28 Homeless Youth Program 0923
29 Initiative: Provides additional funding for homeless youth shelters in the State.
30 GENERAL FUND 2021-22 2022-23
31 All Other $500,000 $500,000
32 __________ __________
33 GENERAL FUND TOTAL $500,000 $500,000
34
30 SUMMARY
35
31 This bill amends the definitions of "emergency children's shelter" and "shelter for
36
32 homeless children" to extend from 30 consecutive days or overnights to 90 consecutive
37
33 days or overnights the length of time a child may stay at such a facility. The bill requires
38
34 the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rules for the licensure of
39
35 shelters for homeless children to allow a child to be admitted for up to 30 days without first
40
36 notifying the child's guardian. The bill requires the department to also amend its rules for
Page 1 - 130LR1830(01)
37
1 the licensure of emergency shelters for children to allow the admission of a child into care
38
2 for up to 30 days without obtaining the permission of the child's guardian.
3 Finally, the bill increases the funding provided to homeless youth shelters from
4 $2,000,000 annually to $2,500,000 annually.
Page 2 - 130LR1830(01)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1076, SP 344: 22.8101