Maine LD 46: An Act To Establish A Substance Use Disorder Clinic At The Cumberland County Jail

Bill Text

Page 1 - 132LR0018(06)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 10 - L.D. 46
An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Increase Postsecondary Educational
Opportunities for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities or
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation establishes the Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program
to support programs at institutions of higher education designed to increase postsecondary
educational opportunities for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or
autism spectrum disorder; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Services is currently designing a
Medicaid home and community-based services waiver, known as the Lifespan Waiver, to
support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism spectrum
disorder; and
Whereas, the grant program established by this legislation could constructively
inform the design of the Lifespan Waiver and should therefore be initiated as soon as
possible before the Lifespan Waiver is expected to go into effect in 2025; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 408 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 408
INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
§10601. Definitions
LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE

JANUARY 11, 2026
CHAPTER
519
PUBLIC LAW

Page 2 - 132LR0018(06)
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings.
1. Developmental disability. "Developmental disability" means a disability
attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical
impairments that:
A. Is manifested before the person reaches 22 years of age;
B. Is likely to continue indefinitely;
C. Results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of
major life activity:
(1) Self-care;
(2) Receptive and expressive language;
(3) Learning;
(4) Mobility;
(5) Self-direction;
(6) Capacity for independent living; and
(7) Economic self-sufficiency; and
D. Reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special,
interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services that are of a lifelong or
extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
2. Grant program. "Grant program" means the Inclusive Higher Education Grant
Program established in section 10602.
3. Inclusive higher education. "Inclusive higher education" means a program of
higher education that offers students with intellectual disabilities, developmental
disabilities or autism spectrum disorder, to the greatest extent possible, the same rights,
privileges, experiences, benefits and outcomes that result in a higher education experience
similar to students without disabilities.
4. Intellectual disability. "Intellectual disability" means a condition of significantly
subaverage intellectual functioning resulting in or associated with concurrent impairments
in adaptive behavior that manifested during the person's developmental period.
5. Program plan. "Program plan" means an inclusive higher education plan
developed by an institution of higher education in the State.
§10602. Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program established; administration;
qualifications; scholarships; reports
The Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program is established in the department to
support postsecondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities,
developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Under the grant program, the
department shall award competitive grants to institutions of higher education in the State
to develop and implement program plans.
1. Administration. The department shall administer the grant program. To carry out
the purposes of the grant program, the department shall:

Page 3 - 132LR0018(06)
A. Include in the administration of the grant program a representative of at least one of
the following offices within the department: the office supporting special education
and inclusive education services, the office supporting innovation in education and
policy implementation and the office supporting workforce development;
B. Develop and send to each institution of higher education in the State the following
materials related to the grant program:
(1) Materials describing the purpose and goals of the grant program;
(2) An application for the grant program;
(3) Compliance requirements and information concerning available funding; and
(4) Information outlining the requirements for qualifying as a comprehensive
transiti