Resolve, To Create the Study Group To Examine an Emerqency Alert Notification System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearinq Individuals Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the ti t1e and before the concept draft summary and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and Legislature do not become effective until adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and resolves of the days after Whereas, the Study Group to Examine an Emergency Alert Notification System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Individuals needs to be established to study the development of an emergency alert notification system to protect the safety of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals; and Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature; and Page l-LR0988(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0397
Committee Amendment CA_A_S40 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 134, L.D. 397, Bill, "An 
Act To Study the Development of an Emergency Alert Notification 
System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Individuals" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, To Create the Study Group To Examine an Emerqency Alert 
Notification System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearinq Individuals' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
ti t1e and before the concept draft summary and inserting in its 
place the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, the Study 
Group 
to 
Examine 
an 
Emergency Alert 
Notification System 
for 
Deaf 
and Hard-of-hearing 
Individuals 
needs to be established to study the development of an emergency 
alert notification system to protect the safety of deaf and 
hard-of-hearing individuals; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the Second Regular 
Session of the 121st Legislature; and 
Page l-LR0988(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 134, L.D. 397 
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. Study group established. Resolved: 
That the Study Group 
to Examine an Emergency Alert Notification System for Deaf and 
Hard-of-hearing Individuals, referred to in this resolve as "the 
study group," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Study group membership. Resolved: 
That the study 
group consists of 17 members appointed as follows: 
l. 
within 
The 
the 
Director of 
Department 
the Maine Emergency Management Agency 
of 
Defense, 
Veterans 
and 
Emergency 
Management; 
2. A representative of the deaf community, appointed by the 
Governor; 
3. 
The Director of the Division of Deafness within the 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; 
4. 
A representative of the emergency services committee 
created by the Division of Deafness, recommended by the Director 
of the Division of Deafness and appointed by the Governor; 
5. 
The Director of the Emergency Services Communications 
Bureau within the Department of Public Safety or the director's 
designee; 
6. A person employed by the office of the Chief Information 
Officer within the Department of Administrative and Financial 
Services 
who 
serves 
on 
Homeland 
Security 
Initiative 
III, 
recommended by the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial 
Services and appointed by the Governor; 
7. A representative of the Office of the Governor, appointed 
by the Governor; 
8. 
A 
person 
employed 
in 
the 
knowledgeable about the requirements of 
With Disabilities Act of 1990, recommended 
Labor and appointed by the Governor; 
Department 
of 
Labor 
the federal Americans 
by the Commissioner of 
9. 
Two 
persons 
knowledgeable 
in the 
subject of 
closed 
captioning on commercial television broadcasts, appointed by the 
Governor; 
10. 
A 
representative 
of 
the 
Maine 
Public 
Broadcasting 
Corporation, appointed by the Governor; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I~ 
.~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .~ It to S.P. 134, L.D. 397 
11. 
Two 
representatives 
of 
municipal 
emergency 
service 
providers, appointed by the Governor; 
12. 
A representative of state or local law enforcement, 
appointed by the Governor; 
13. 
A 
person 
with 
expertise 
in 
telephone 
and 
pager 
technology, appointed by the Governor; and 
14. 
Two 
persons 
with 
technical 
expertise 
in 
emergency 
notification systems and state-of-the-art technologies relevant 
to the subject of the study, appointed by the Governor; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: 
That the Director of the Maine 
Emergency Management Agency within the Department of Defense, 
Veterans and Emergency Management shall serve as chair; and be it 
further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of study group. 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. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chair shall call and convene t~e 
first meeting of the study group; and be it further 
Sec. S. Duties. Resolved: 
That the study group shall: 
1. Study the development of emergency alert systems for deaf 
and hard-of-hearing individuals for all types of emergencies, 
including weather-related emergencies; 
2. 
Develop 
recommendations for establishing or improving 
emergency alert systems for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals; 
3. Compile and evaluate information relevant to the subject 
of the study; 
4. Seek input and information from any state agencies with 
expertise relevant to the subject of the study; 
5. 
Invite 
public 
comments 
and 
testimony 
during 
the 
development of its recommendation; and 
6. Invite participation from any interested members of the 
Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy; 
and be it 
further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 134, L.D. 397 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Maine Emergency 
Management Agency within the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall provide staff assistance to the study 
group. The study group may request of the Legislative Council 
assistance 
from 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis in 
drafting any legislation the study group proposes; and be it 
further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That members of the study 
group are not entitled to per diem or reimbursement for expenses 
related to their participation in the work of the study group; 
and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, no later than November 21, 
2003, the study group shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 12lst 
Legislature. 
The 
study 
group 
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 study group 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. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved .• 
SUMMARY 
This amendment establishes the Study Group to Examine an 
Emergency Alert Notification System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing 
Individuals. 
The study group consists of 17 
members 
and is 
chaired and staffed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency 
within 
the 
Department 
of 
Defense, 
Veterans 
and 
Emergency 
Management. 
The 
study 
group 
is 
directed 
to 
invite 
the 
participation of any interested members of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Utilities and Energy. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Approved: 03/30103 frae. 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD397 
An Act To Study the Development of an Emergency Alert Notification 
System for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Individuals 
LR0988(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A's:q."o 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR0988(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1