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An Act To Ensure Continued Operation of the Poison Hotline
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the 90-day period may not terminate until after the beginning of the next fiscal year; and
Whereas,  the poison hotline provides life-saving and cost-effective health information to tens of thousands of callers each year; and
Whereas,  funding for the poison hotline, operated by the Northern New England Poison Center, is overly reliant on private contributions and uncertain state and federal grants; and
Whereas,  failure to provide adequate funding in the last quarter of the state fiscal year will reduce the ability of the Poison Hotline to provide life-saving and cost-effective services; 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. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Bureau of Health 0143
 
Initiative: Appropriates funds for grants to the Northern New England Poison Center to continue operation of the poison hotline.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
All Other	$170,000	$680,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$170,000	$680,000	
 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill appropriates $170,000 in 2007-08 and $680,000 in 2008-09 to the Department of Health and Human Services for grants to the Northern New England Poison Center to continue operation of the poison hotline.