Resolve, To Ensure the Continued Provision of Services to Maine Children and Families

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  to ensure the necessary and proper protection of children and families in the State this legislation must take effect immediately; 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

Sec. 1. Moratorium on the reduction, elimination or redirection of services or funding relating to programs to protect children and families. Resolved: That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, before April 1, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services may not, through any rule-making or emergency rule-making procedure or any other process, reduce or eliminate or redirect to another program or use any service or funding for programs designed to protect children and families, including, but not limited to, community partnerships for protecting children programs and domestic violence prevention programs; and be it further

Sec. 2. Community Partnerships for Protecting Children contracts. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services may not cancel and shall renew the contracts awarded by the department pursuant to RFP number 201509167, Community Partnerships for Protecting Children to The Opportunity Alliance, agreement number CFS-17-8201; Broadreach Family and Community Services, agreement number CFS-17-8203; Community Concepts, agreement number CFS-17-8204; and Penquis, agreement number CFS-17-8205.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve prohibits, until April 1, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services from reducing, eliminating or redirecting services or funding relating to programs designed to protect children and families. The resolve also prohibits the department from cancelling contracts awarded pursuant to RFP number 201509167, Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, and requires the department to renew those contracts.