Resolve, To Create the Task Force To Study Parity and Portability of Retirement Benefits for State Law Enforcement Officers, Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1343
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: RICHARDSON, EDMONDS, BUNKER, DUPLESSIE, LESSARD, SMITH, SHOREY

Legislative Document 
No. 1343 
H.P.989 
House of Representatives, March 12,2003 
Resolve, To Create the Task Force To Study Parity and Portability 
of Retirement Benefits for State Law Enforcement Officers, 
Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative RICHARDSON of Brunswick. 
Cosponsored by Senator EDMONDS of Cumberland and 
'7Jl~ 1I7.1lltU~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BUNKER of Kossuth Township, DUPLESSIE of Westbrook, LESSARD of 
Topsham, SMITH of Van Buren, Senator: SHOREY of Washington. 
PrinteU nil re4:ycl~d p~r 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, this resolve establishes 
Parity and Portability of Retirement 
Enforcement Officers, 
Municipal 
Law 
Firefighters; and 
the Task Force to Study 
Benefits 
for 
State 
Law 
Enforcement 
Officers 
and 
Whereas, this resolve is necessary as 
to afford adequate 
time for 
the 
issues 
addressed by the task force; and 
an emergency measure 
to be 
appropriately 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Study Parity and Portability of Retirement Benefits for State Law 
Enforcement Officers, 
Municipal 
Law 
Enforcement 
Officers 
and 
Firefighters, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is 
established: and be it further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: 
That the task force 
consists of 11 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate. 
When making the appointments, the President of the 
Senate shall give preference to members who serve on the Joint 
Standing Committee 
on State and 
Local 
Government, 
the Joint 
Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety or the 
Joint Standing Committee on Labor; 
2. 
Five members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House. 
When making the appointments, the 
Speaker of the House shall give preference to members who serve 
on the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, 
the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice or the Joint 
Standing Committee on Labor; and 
3. 
Four members appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
One 
member 
representing 
municipal 
law 
enforcement 
officers; 
B. 
One member representing municipal firefighters; 
Page l-LR0537 (1) 
C. 
One member representing state law enforcement officers 
including employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal 
who have law enforcement powers; and 
D. 
One member representing the Maine Municipal Association; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the task force and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Wi thin 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall examine 
the following issues concerning retirement and health insurance 
benefits for state and municipal law enforcement officers and 
firefighters: 
1. 
Review the differences in retirement benefits provided 
to state law enforcement officers and municipal law enforcement 
officers; 
2. 
Develop options for providing parity in benefits and for 
increasing portability of benefits for law enforcement officers 
who 
move 
between 
state 
and 
municipal 
employment, 
including 
employment in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, or those who 
change municipal employers; 
3. 
Review 
the 
differences 
among 
retirement 
and 
health 
insurance benefits provided to municipal law enforcement officers 
and 
firefighters 
in various 
municipalities 
and 
consider 
the 
advantages and disadvantages of creating a uniform retirement and 
health 
insurance benefit plan 
for 
municipal 
law 
enforcement 
officers and firefighters. 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force. 
The 
Maine State Retirement System shall provide technical assistance 
as requested by the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the task force are entitled to receive legislative per diem, 
as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their attendance at meetings of the task force. Public members 
not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities 
that they represent are entitled to receive 
reimbursement of 
necessary expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings of 
the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That the task force shall submit 
its 
report 
that 
includes 
its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, to the Second Regular Session of 
the l21st Legislature no later than December 3, 2003. 
The task 
force 
is authorized to introduce legislation related to its 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature at 
the time of submission of its report; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the task force requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Task force budget. Resolved: That the chairs of the 
task force, with assistance from the task force staff, shall 
administer the task force's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the task force shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
task force may not incur expenses that would result in the task 
force's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the task force, the Executive Director of 
the Legislative Councilor the executive director's designee 
shall promptly provide the task force chair and staff with a 
status report on the study budget, expenditures incurred and paid 
and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve creates the Task Force to Study Parity and 
Portability of Retirement Benefits for State 
Law 
Enforcement 
Officers, Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters.