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LD 802

Resolve, Directing The Department Of Health And Human Services To Design A Mentoring Program For Youth Who Have Extended Care And Support Agreements With The Department

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Brennan and 8 co-sponsors

DHHS must design and evaluate a targeted mentoring program for youth under extended care and support agreements, funded by a one-time $20,000 contract amendment.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 802

Summary — LD 802 (132nd Legislature)

Title: Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Design a Mentoring Program for Youth Who Have Extended Care and Support Agreements With the Department
Sponsor: Rep. Sachs (Freeport)
Committee: Health and Human Services
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Status: Signed by the Governor (July 1, 2025)

Purpose

LD 802 is a Resolve directing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to design a mentoring program specifically for youth who have extended care and support agreements with the department. The Resolve requires DHHS to evaluate mentoring program options and produce a program design to support this population.

Key provisions

  • Instructs DHHS to design a mentoring program targeted at youth under extended care and support agreements with the department.
  • Requires DHHS to evaluate mentoring program options rather than immediately implement a full statewide program.
  • As enacted (with Committee Amendment A, H‑172), the Resolve provides a one-time General Fund appropriation to DHHS to amend an existing contract with the University of Southern Maine’s Youth Leadership Advisory Team to carry out the evaluation and design work.

Fiscal impact

  • Final (engrossed) fiscal note: one-time General Fund appropriation of $20,000 in FY 2025‑26; no ongoing General Fund cost projected for FY 2026‑27 and beyond.
  • Earlier fiscal notes showed higher projected one-time costs ($134,235 in FY 2025‑26 under the original bill and $67,117 in FY 2026‑27 under an interim version); these were superseded by the amendment that reduced the scope to a contract amendment with the Youth Leadership Advisory Team at USM.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: youth who have extended care and support agreements with DHHS (the population targeted for mentoring supports).
  • Administrative: DHHS, which will perform the evaluation/design work and amend its contract with USM’s Youth Leadership Advisory Team.
  • Potential downstream effect: if DHHS recommends and the Legislature or administration approves full implementation, additional state or federal funding and local providers/mentors could be involved.

Legislative timeline / status

  • Referred to Health and Human Services (Feb 27, 2025).
  • Committee work and amendment (H‑172) adopted May 21, 2025.
  • Finally passed (concurrence) May 27, 2025.
  • Signed by Governor July 1, 2025.

Next steps / implementation notes

  • DHHS will amend its contract with the Youth Leadership Advisory Team (USM) to evaluate mentoring program models and design program components.
  • The Resolve produces a program design; any subsequent decision to implement a statewide mentoring program would likely require additional administrative planning and funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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