Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1645
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: EDMONDS, RICHARDSON, ANDREWS, DIAMOND, GAGNON, MAYO, ROSEN, SCHNEIDER, TUTTLE

Legislative Document 
No. 1645 
S.P.610 
In Senate, May 3, 2005 
Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Maine's 
Homeland Security Needs 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 205. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Speaker RICHARDSON of Brunswick and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: ANDREWS of York, DIAMOND of Cumberland, GAGNON of Kennebec, MAYO 
of Sag ada hoc, ROSEN of Hancock, SCHNEIDER of Penobscot, Representative: TUTTLE of 
Sanford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Blue Ribbon 
Commission to Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs, referred to 
in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 17 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two 
Senators, 
who 
may 
not 
be 
members 
of 
the 
same 
political party, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2. 
Two members of the House of Representatives, who may not 
be members of the same political party, appointed by the Speaker 
of the House; 
3. 
The Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General's designee; 
4. 
One member who is an elected representative of municipal 
government, nominated by a statewide organization that represents 
municipal government, appointed by the Governor; 
5. 
One member who is a fire chief, nominated by a statewide 
organization that represents municipal fire chiefs, appointed by 
the Governor; 
6. 
One 
member 
who 
is 
a 
firefighter, 
nominated 
by 
a 
statewide organization that represents firefighters, appointed by 
the Governor; 
7. 
One member 
who 
is 
a 
county sheriff 
sheriff, nominated by a statewide organization 
county sheriffs, appointed by the Governor; 
or chief deputy 
that represents 
8. 
One member who is a municipal police chief, nominated by 
a statewide organization that represents police chiefs, appointed 
by the Governor; 
9. 
One member who is an emergency room physician, nominated 
by a statewide organization that represents physicians, appointed 
by the Governor; 
10. 
One 
member 
who 
is 
a 
public 
nominated by a statewide organization that 
health community, appointed by the Governor; 
health 
professional, 
represents the public 
11. 
nominated 
officials, 
One 
member 
who 
is 
a 
port 
security 
by 
an 
organization 
that 
represents 
appointed by the Governor; 
professional, 
port 
security 
,. 
12. 
Four 
members 
representing the public interest, 
one 
appointed by the President of the Senate, one appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2 members appointed 
by the Governor; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. 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 chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission, 
which may be 
no later than 
November 1, 2005; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall examine, 
by 
conducting 
public 
hearings 
and 
through 
other 
means 
of 
collecting relevant information, 
the following issues concerning 
the State's homeland security preparedness: 
1. 
Analyze Maine's homeland security needs in a wide range 
of 
areas, 
including, 
but 
not 
limited 
to, 
law 
enforcement, 
emergency preparedness, public health, port and airport security 
and sensitive-target security; 
2. 
Review 
the 
current 
state 
of 
homeland 
security 
preparedness, spending priorities and any gap between available 
resources 
and 
identified needs 
in 
such 
areas 
as 
personnel, 
equipment and training, including review of the impact of Maine 
National 
Guard 
and 
Reserve 
deployments 
abroad 
on 
Maine's 
emergency preparedness; and 
3. 
Review 
current 
federal 
homeland 
security 
spending 
priorities as they relate to the State and the nation, including, 
but not limited to, the proposed reduction in federal homeland 
security funds for the State; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That 
Management Agency shall provide necessary 
the commission; and be it further 
the Maine 
Emergency 
staffing services to 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to receive the 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 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the commission. 
All other 
members not otherwise compensated by 
their 
employers 
or 
other 
entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are 
entitled to receiv~ the legislative per diem,and reimbursement of 
necessary expenses related to their 
attendance at authorized 
.1 
meetings of the commission; and be it 'further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than January 17, 
2006, the commission shall submit an interim report that includes 
findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to 
the 
Second 
Regular 
Session 
of 
the 
122nd 
Legislature. 
The 
commission is authorized to introduce 
a bill related to its 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature at 
the time of submission of its report. 
No later than December 15, 
2006, the commission shall submit a final report that includes 
its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including 
suggested 
legislation, 
to 
the 
First 
Regular 
Session 
of 
the 
123rd 
Legislature. 
The commission is authorized to introduce a bill 
related to its report to the First Regular Session of the 123rd 
Legislature at the time of submission of its report; and be it 
further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its interim or final 
study and make its report, it may 
apply to 
the Legislative 
Council, which may grant an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Funding; budget. Resolved: 
That the Maine Emergency 
Management Agency shall provide funding for the operation of the 
commission and shall manage the commission's budget. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes a study commission to analyze the 
State's homeland security needs, 
the State's current level of 
homeland 
security 
preparedness 
and 
the 
Federal 
Government's 
homeland security spending priorities as 
they relate to 
the 
State. 
The commission is required to submit an interim report of 
its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 
17, 2006 and a final report by December 15, 2006.