State Legislation/Regulation

LD 818, “An Act to Provide Support for the Volunteer Medical Ride Network”

M4A worked with Rep. Campbell to introduce this legislation, and testified in support of this legislation.

Summary: This bill makes a one-time General Fund appropriation of $50,000 in fiscal year 2007-08 for direct grants to local area agencies on aging to support the volunteer medical ride network. The funds will be used to support and expand a volunteer medical ride network focused on using volunteers to transport Maine’s elderly to health care services such as kidney dialysis and cancer therapy.

Sponsor: Rep. James Campbell

Cosponsors: Representatives Beaudoin; Connor; Finley; Grose; Lewin; Perry; Walcott; Walker and Senator Martin.

Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs.

Action: This bill was referred to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on February 16, 2007. A Hearing was held on May 16, 2007.
On May 2, 2007 the Democrats released their budget plan and it included $50,000 in FY 2008 and $50,000 in FY 2009 for the Volunteer Medical Ride Network. The Republican’s budget plan did not include this funding. The Appropriations Committee finally approved including this funding ($50,000 EACH year for 2 years!) in the budget by a unanimous vote. On June 6, 2007 the Legislature passed the Budget (with our funding request intact) and the Governor has since signed it.