In the 1980s, Alpha One, a center for Independent Living in our State, chaired a commission that was charged with studying the needs of people with disabilities in Maine. Of the pressing matters identified, they found there was a need for a low interest loan program that would help people with disabilities receive adaptive equipment and aide in their ability to live independently. In 1987, Maine voters approved this loan program as a bond measure, and created the only citizen-funded loan program in the country. Since its inception, the loan program has funded loans totaling more than $25 million to individuals and businesses.  

This loan program has been extremely important to those living with a disability, as well as for businesses that need funds to increase accessibility. As a freshmen legislator, I had much to learn about the legislative process. It usually begins with legislators submitting an idea for a bill with a title to the Revisor’s office, the office that drafts the language of each bill. I quickly learned that there is also something called a Department bill, meaning that one of the many State Departments asks a legislator to submit legislation on their behalf. 

One of the bills I’ve worked on this session was a Department bill from the Treasury. I found this process to be especially rewarding, and a demonstration of the cooperative effort it takes from so many individuals and entities to create a well-rounded and effective piece of legislation.  

I had the pleasure of working closely with our State Treasurer, Henry Beck, on this bill. I presented LD 1160, “An Act to Transfer the Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund to the Office of the State Treasurer,” to the committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business (IDEA-B) on April 18, 2019.  

All bills are a collaborative effort, but Department bills pose a unique opportunity for legislators to work directly with the head of our State Departments to achieve common goals. In this case, the Department of Treasury worked closely with me to bring the legislation forward, along with the Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund Board, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) – who has managed the loan program in the past, – and Alpha One – the reason this wonderful program exists.  

Essentially, the bill transfers the loan program from FAME to the Treasury Department at the request of FAME and with the approval of the Board. This agreement could not have happened without myself, the legislator, to introduce the legislation and could not have been achieved without all involved parties coming together to testify in support of the bill.  

Because of our efforts, the bill received a unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended vote from the IDEA-B Committee, was approved by both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by Governor Mills on May 30, 2019. The decision to transfer these funds was a group effort and will allow this program to continue to support our community members with disabilities. I am proud to have been a part of this process and appreciate the collaborative effort we all put forward. 

Braden Sharpe, a Democrat, represents Durham, North Yarmouth and part of Pownal as House District 46’s representative in the Legislature.