Resolve, Creating a Working Group To Study the High Rate of Suicide in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1208
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: SCHNEIDER, MILLER, MARTIN, MAYO, ROSEN, BARSTOW, CAIN, MAKAS, PINGREE, WEBSTER

Legislative Document 
No. 1208 
S.P.422 
In Senate, March 10, 2005 
Resolve, Creating a Working Group To Study the High Rate of 
Suicide in Maine 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SCHNEIDER of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative MILLER of Somerville and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary ofthe Senate 
Senators: MARTIN of Aroostook, MAYO of Sagadahoc, ROSEN of Hancock, 
Representatives: BARSTOW of Gorham, CAIN of Orono, MAKAS of Lewiston, PINGREE of 
North Haven, WEBSTER of Freeport. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas. acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
gO 
days 
after 
Whereas. this resolve establishes the Working Group to Study 
the High Rate of Suicide in Maine; and 
Whereas, 
the 
study must 
be 
initiated before 
the 
gO-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
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. Working group established. Resolved: 
That the Working 
Group to Study the High Rate of Suicide in Maine, referred to in 
this resolve as "the working group," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: 
That the working 
group consists of 11 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
One member from the Senate, appointed by the President 
of the Senate; 
2. 
Two members from the House, appointed by the Speaker of 
the House; 
3. 
Three members representing suicide prevention groups, 2 
appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
4. 
One member who is a guidance counselor, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
5. 
One member who is a medical person knowledgeable about 
drugs appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
6. 
One member who is suicide counselor, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
7. 
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the 
commissioner's designee; and 
8. 
The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Senate 
member 
is the 
Senate chair of the working group and the first-named House of 
Representatives member is the House chair of the working group; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of working group. 
Resolved: 
That 
all 
appointments 
must 
be 
made 
no 
later 
than 
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 15 days after appointment of all members, the chairs shall 
call and convene the first meeting of the working group; and be 
it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the working group shall hold 
meetings at various locations in the State to be determined by 
the 
chairs. 
The 
working 
group 
shall 
develop 
a 
statewide 
strategic plan to address the suicide problem in the State. 
In 
conducting its study, the working group shall: 
1. 
Establish a statewide preventative mentoring and buddy 
program to help troubled individuals; 
2. 
Develop or strengthen statewide communications on the 
topic; 
3. 
Develop a media plan; and 
4. 
Establish a yearly conference; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
~4 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the working group; 
and be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
lR 
of the working group 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 working 
group. 
Public 
members 
not 
otherwise 
compensated 
by 
their 
employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement 
of 
necessary 
expenses 
and, 
upon 
a 
demonstration of financial hardship, 
a 
per diem equal to the 
legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings 
of the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 7, 
2005, the working group shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services and the Legislative Council. 
The working group is 
not authorized to introduce legislation. 
Following receipt and 
review of the report, the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human 
Services may 
report out 
a bill to the 
Second Regular 
Session of the 122nd Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 9. 
Extension. 
Resolved: 
That, 
if the 
requires a limited extension of time to complete 
make its report, it may apply to the Legislative 
may grant an extension; and be it further 
working 
group 
its study and 
Council, which 
Sec. 10. Working group budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of 
the working group, with assistance from the working group staff, 
shall administer the working group's budget. 
Within 
days 
after its first meeting, the working group shall present a work 
plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council 
for its 
approval. 
The working group may not incur expenses that would 
result in the working group's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the working group, the Executive Director of 
the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the working group 
chairs 
and staff with 
a 
status report on the working group 
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 
J2 
This resolve establishes a working group to st.udy t.he high 
rate of suicide in Maine. 
The working group shall submit its 
report 
to 
the Joint Standing 
Committee 
on 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services by December 7, 2005.