Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1645
Committee Amendment CA_A_S290 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A' to S.P. 610, L.D. 1645, "Resolve, 
To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Maine's Homeland 
Security Needs" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
. Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Maine's Homeland 
Security Needs' 
Further amend the resolve by striking out everything after 
the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; 
and 
until 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, it is appropriate and timely to create a task force 
to receive the Report of the Governor's Homeland Security Task 
Force and to involve and educate the Legislature and the public 
regarding the issues of preparedness and emergency response: and 
Whereas, it is also important to identify the State's needs 
and resource gaps regarding homeland security and communicate 
these to our congressional delegation; 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 
Page l-LR2206(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to S.P. 610, L.D. 1645 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Study Maine's 
Homeland 
Security Needs, 
referred to 
in this 
resolve as lithe 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 
Senators, 
who 
may 
not 
be 
members 
of the 
same 
political party, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2. 
Four members of the House of Representatives, who may 
not all be members of the same political party, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; and 
3. 
Five members representing the public interest who are 
not directly involved in emergency 
preparedness 
or 
homeland 
security, 
one appointed by the President of the Senate, 
one 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 3 
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 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 &ask 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. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the task force, which may be no later than 
August I, 2005; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall do the 
following: 
1. 
Review 
Maine's 
homeland 
including, 
but 
not 
limited 
to, 
preparedness, 
public 
health, 
port 
sensitive-target security; 
secur i ty 
needs 
in 
areas, 
law 
and 
enforcement, 
emergency 
airport 
security 
and 
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; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to S.P. 610, L.D. 1645 
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3. As part of its review of needs and preparedness, receive 
a report from the Governor's Homeland Security Task Force on the 
vision and plans identified by that task force and the status of 
those plans as of tky 2005; 
4. 
Hold at least 2 of its meetings outside of Augusta and 
provide an opportunity for public comment at those meetings; 
5. 
Review ways to improve the flow of 
Legislature 
and 
the 
general 
public 
about 
security needs and preparedness; and 
information to the 
Maine's 
homeland 
6. 
Determine whether and how State Government can better 
assist the members of the congressional delegation in advocating 
for Maine's homeland security needs with the Federal Government; 
and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Legislative Council 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the task force 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 
~ttendance at authorized meetings of the task 
force. 
All other 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 attendance at authorized meetings of the 
task force; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 7, 
2005, the task force shall submit an interim report that includes 
findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to 
the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature. 
The task 
force 
is authorized to introduce 
legislation related to its 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature at 
the time of submission of its report. 
No later than November 1, 
2006, the task force shall submit a final report that includes 
its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including 
suggested 
legislation, 
to 
the 
First 
Regular 
Session 
of 
the 
l23rd 
Legislature. 
The 
task 
force 
is 
authorized 
to 
introduce 
legislation 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. ExtensilaQ. Resolved: 
That, if the task force requires 
a 
limited 
extension 
of 
time 
to 
complete 
its 
interim 
or 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to S.P. 610, L.D. 1645 
final 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 Council 
shall promptly provide the task force chairs and staff with a 
status report on the task force 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 amendment strikes the resolve and replaces the blue 
ribbon commission with the Task Force to Study Maine' s Homeland 
Security Needs. 
The amendment also changes the membership and 
redefines the duties. 
The task force is composed of 11 members: 
Legislators and 5 members of the public who are not directly 
involved in homeland security or emergency preparedness. 
The 
task force shall review needs and preparedness, using a report 
from the Governor' s Homeland Security Task Force as a beginning 
point. 
The 
task 
force 
shall also 
look at ways 
to 
improve 
communications with the Legislature and the public and consider 
ways to help the congressional delegation explain Maine' s needs 
on the federal level. 
The task force shall hold at least 2 of 
its meetings outside Augusta 
different areas of the State. 
staffing and funding from the 
to the Legislature. 
to allow for public 
comment in 
The amendment also changes the 
Maine Emergency Management Agency 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05123/05 hac.. 
LD 1645 
LR 2206(02) 
Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs 
Legislative Study 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current Costs - Legislative Study 
The projected costs to fund the general operating expenses of this study are $5,320 in fiscal year 2005· 
and $5,320 in fiscal year 2006-07. The Legislature's current budget includes $30,000 in fiscal 
year 2005-06 and $20,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 for legislative studies. Whether the amounts are 
sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative 
Council and the Legislature. 
LR2206(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1