The commissioner shall establish the Dorothea Dix Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in improving the lives of people living with mental illness or mental disabilities. The award must be made on April 4th of each odd-numbered year at the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. The Governor or the Governor's designee shall present the award. [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]
1.Eligibility. A person who is a Maine resident or has direct long-standing ties with Maine is eligible to win the award. [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]
2.Dorothea Dix Award Selection Committee; established. The Dorothea Dix Award Selection Committee, known in this subchapter as "the committee," is established and consists of the following 4 members:A. One member representing people with mental illness, chosen by the Governor; [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]B. One member representing advocates for the legal rights of people living with disabilities, chosen by the President of the Senate; [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]C. One member representing people with mental disabilities, chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]D. One member representing children living with mental illness or mental disabilities, chosen by the Attorney General. [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).] [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]
3.Selection procedure. Any person may nominate a candidate for the award. The committee shall develop a review and selection procedure. [2005, c. 236, §1(NEW).]
2005, c. 236, § 1 (NEW) .