ALFRED — State Sen. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, said Tuesday that he has submitted a bill that would establish a grant program whereby Maine’s counties could apply for funding to help finance drug rehabilitation programs. 

The  bill, currently in concept form ahead of the Dec. 30 deadline for legislators to submit bills, would help counties like York, he said, which has a proposal at the ready. York County government plans to convert an existing pre-release center next to York County Jail to a 36-bed detoxification and residential rehabilitation unit.

The county is hoping for an allocation from the state’s general fund for the $1.6 million project and County Manager Greg Zinser is recommending that county commissioners use $200,000 in a reserve account to help with start-up costs.

York County government is working with York County Shelter Programs on the proposal, which could see some pre-trial arrestees be sent to rehab as a condition of bail under certain circumstances. Zinser has said the proposal is “shovel ready.”

Chenette, who served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives before being elected  Nov. 8 to the state senate district that includes Hollis, Limington, Old Orchard Beach, his hometown of Saco and part of Buxton, said  his work on the legislature’s criminal justice committee last session “aligns well with this mission.”

“We’ve had many conversations on how best to do this,” said Chenette.

While the plan Chenette proposes is subject to change, his current thinking is that the program would be a pilot. 

According to Chenette, the bill would direct the Department of Corrections, with advice from the Maine County Commissioners Association and the Maine Sheriff’s Association, to create a state grant for the creation of drug rehabilitation and treatment facilities attached to county jails.

He said grants would be awarded based on need, approved local contributions to the project and existing plans to convert a portion of their jails into short term and long term residential drug treatment facilities.

He said the state funds would be a direct matching grant and that counties must fund 50 percent  of the cost of construction of the facility in order to qualify for matching funds.

Chenette said a final figure hasn’t been decided, but suggested $1 million.

“It can’t be the state putting forward the bulk of the money but the state should be responsible for encouraging this type of thing,” said Chenette.

He said action can’t wait, pointing out that Attorney General Janet Mills has said that on average, one person in Maine dies of a drug overdose every day. 

County commissioners have set a public hearing on the proposal, which calls for a 12-bed short-term detoxification unit and 24-bed residential rehabilitation unit,  for their Jan. 18 meeting.

Chenette is a digital advertising executive. for the Journal Tribune.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.