Sec. 1. Development of assisted living services programs. The Department of Human Services shall develop assisted living services programs in 6 locations situated around the State. The programs must serve the elderly and persons with disabilities and must bridge the gap between home-based care and nursing facility care. The developers of the programs who will work in partnership with the department must be chosen in a competitive process administered by the department.

Sec. 2. Commission to Study Assisted Living. There is established the Commission to Study Assisted Living, referred to in this section as the "commission," to study assisted living options for the State in order to develop high-quality, cost-effective assisted living housing and service programs to serve the growing population of elderly and disabled persons in appropriate community center locations across the State.

1. Membership. The commission consists of 20 members appointed as follows:

A. Seven members appointed by the President of the Senate. The President shall appoint 4 members of the Senate, of whom the first named Senator serves as Senate chair. In making these appointments, preference must be given to members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The President shall also appoint the following 3 other members: one person representing older persons; one person representing providers of long-term care, including assisted living services; and one person representing developers of assisted living services;

B. Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House shall appoint 4 members of the House of Representatives, of whom the first named Legislator serves as House chair. In making these appointments, preference must be given to members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The Speaker of the House shall also appoint the following 3 members: one person representing providers of affordable assisted living services; one person representing private market providers of assisted living services; and one person representing the area agencies on aging; and

C. Six members appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall appoint a representative of the Maine State Housing Authority; a representative of the State Planning Office; a representative of the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Elder and Adult Services; a representative of the