This collection of laws, proposed legislation, reports from task forces, and lawsuit and consent decree documents represents two centuries of discourse and policy that has impacted people with developmental disabilities in Maine and across the United States.
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1656 – 1817 Warning Out in New England – Josiah Henry Benton, published 1911
1821 – Maine Law 1821 Relief for the Poor Town Farm and Almshouses Established
1821-1915 Cumberland Overseers of the Poor Documents 1821-1915
1834 – Committee Report and Resolve on creation of Insane Hospital
1840 – Regulations of the Maine State Mental Hospital
1848 – Training and Teaching Idiots by Samuel Howe
1850 – Maine Law 1850 Chapter 193 – An act to provide for the education of youth
1859 – Report to Legislature on Idiotic Children
1866 – Ceremonies on laying the corner-stone of the New York State Institution for the Blind
1874 Reports of the Commissioners on New Insane Hospital
1903 Maine Revised Statutes on the Education of Youth
1905 Report of Committee on Home for Feeble Minded
1907 Maine Law Ch 44 Establishment of School for Feeble Minded
1909 Maine Law Judge of Probate May Commit to School for Feeble Minded
1911 Maine Law Chapter 19 Establishing Board of Trustees
1913 Report of the Maine School for Feeble Minded
1917 Maine Law – Children sent to School for Feeble Minded
1917 Summaries of State Laws Relating to the Feebleminded and the Epileptic – Maine
1925 Maine Law Chapter 208 – Sterilization
1931 Maine Law Chapter 216 – Establishment of Dept of Health and Welfare
1931 Maine Law Chapter 172 – Penalty for Abetting Escapees
1931 Maine Law Chapter 215 – Duties of Superintendents
1933 Maine Law Chapter 1 – Organization of Department of Health and Welfare
1941 Maine Law Chapter 217 – allowing inmates temporary leave from Pownal
1945 Maine Law Chapter 63 – AN ACT Relating to the Determination of Mentally Defective Children
1947 Resolution Chapter 152 – Appropriation Bill for Pownal
1949 Maine Law Chapter 403 – AN ACT Creating the State Board of Education
1949 Maine Law Chapter 29 – Furnishing and Operating Two New Dormitories
1955 Maine Resolution Chapter 50 – Appropriation emergency funds for Pownal
1955 Maine Law Chapter 211 – Appropriation of $1.2 million for Pownal
1957 AN ACT Changing the Name of Pownal State School to Pineland Hospital and Training Center
1957 Maine Law Chapter 368 – AN ACT Relating to Teachers for Mentally Retarded Children
1959 Maine Law Chapter 360 – AN ACT Providing for Mental Health Services
1959 Maine Law Chapter 189 – Ages of Institutionalization
1959 Maine Resolution Chapter 64 – Flora Burrill Tibbetts lawsuit
1962 Report to the President- A Proposed Program for National Action to Combat Mental Retardation
1963 Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments
1963 Mental Retardation and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act
1964 Maine Revised Statutes Title 20 Chapter 405 – MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
1965 Maine Sentiment – AN ACT to Reactivate Maine Committee on Problems of the Mentally Retarded
1967 Maine Law Chapter 535 – AN ACT Establishing the Bureau of Mental Retardation
1967 State of Maine Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Plan
1969 Maine Law Chapter 265 – AN ACT Relating to the Guardianship of Mentally Retarded Persons
1970 Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments
1973 Maine Law Chapter 609 – AN ACT Relating to Exceptional Children
1975 Class Action Lawsuit – Wuori v. Concannon Complaint
1975 Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act – Public Law 94-103
1975 Maine Law Chapter 293 – Department of Health and Welfare to Department of Human Service
1975 The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
1978 Developmental Disabilities Act
1979 to 1983 Pineland Consent Decree
1980 Long Term Care Dilemmas – Perceptions and Recommendations – Report of Task Force on Long Term Care for Adults
1980 ORDER ESTABLISHING THE STATE COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
1981 Maine Law Chapter 493 – AN ACT to Create a Department of Corrections
1981 Maine Law Chapter 693 – AN ACT to Revise the Education Laws
1981 Maine Law Chapter 402 – Marriage Laws
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act – as amended through 2008
1990 IDEA Law – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
1994 AN ORDER ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON PINELAND CENTER
1996 LD 1859 – An Act to Authorize the Disposition of Property Interests at the Pineland Center
1996 Maine Report of the Assisted Living Task Force
1999 Olmstead v LC Supreme Court decision
2000 Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Strategic Plan
2003 Maine Law Chapter 689 Creation of Dept of Health and Human Services
2003 Maine Olmstead Roadmap for Change – Work Group for Community Based Living
2005 Maine Law Chapter 662 – An Act to Improve Early Childhood Education
2008 Report of Blue Ribbon Commission to Study the Future of Home-based and Community Care
2009 Cross-System Profile of Maine’s Long Term Support System
2010 Maine Department of Health and Human Services History and Organization
2010 Maine Legislative Record – Statement of Regret about Malaga Island