Resolve, Establishing The Task Force To Study Cervical Cancer Prevention, Detection and Education
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1302
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PLOWMAN, ADAMS, BOWLES, FAIRCLOTH, HUTTON, MAKAS, RICHARDSON, WESTON

Legislative Document 
No. 1302 
H.P.899 
House of Representatives, March 15,2005 
Resolve, Establishing The Task Force To Study Cervical Cancer 
Prevention, Detection and Education 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representati ve MARRACHE of Waterville. 
Cosponsored by Senator PLOWMAN of Penobscot and 
7r/~/J7.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, BOWLES of Sanford, FAIRCLOTH of Bangor, 
HUTTON of Bowdoinham, MAKAS of Lewiston, Speaker RICHARDSON of Brunswick, 
Senator: WESTON of Waldo. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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 the Task Force to Study 
Cervical Cancer Prevention, Detection and Education; 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 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. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Study 
Cervical 
Cancer 
Prevention, 
Detection 
and 
Education, 
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 the following 13 members. 
1. 
Three members are appointed by the President of the 
Senate as follows: 
A. 
One representative of a women's health organization; 
B. 
One communications consultant; and 
C. 
One representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics; 
~6 
2. 
Three members are appointed by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives as follows: 
A. 
One representative of the American Cancer Society who is 
an oncologist; 
B. 
One representative of the health insurance industry; and 
C. 
One 
representative 
of 
the 
American 
College 
of 
Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 
3. 
Five members are appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
One representative of the American Academy of Family 
Physicians; 
Page l-LR1S08 (l) 
B. 
One licensed registered nurse; 
C. 
One representative of the Maine Medical Association or 
its successor; 
D. 
One member of the Maine Osteopathic Association or its 
successor; and 
E. 
One person who has survived cervical cancer; 
4. 
The 
state 
epidemiologist 
or 
the 
epidemiologist's 
designee; and 
5. 
The 
Director 
of 
the 
Bureau 
of 
Health 
within 
the 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services, 
or 
the director's 
designee, who serves as an ex officio member of the task force. 
When 
making 
appointments 
to 
the task force, 
each appointing 
authority shall ensure that appointees reflect the composition of 
the State's population with regard to ethnicity, race and age; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: 
That the Governor shall select a 
chair from among the members of the task force. 
The task force 
shall elect a vice-chair from its members; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: 
'I'hat all 
appointments must be made no later than October 21, 2005. 
The 
]0 
appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the 
Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. 
] 2 
The chair shall call and convene the first meeting of the task 
force on November 15, 2005; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Quorum. Resolved: 
That a majority of the task force 
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of its business; and be 
it further 
.18 
Sec. 6. Committees. Resolved: 
That the task force chair may 
IlO 
establish committees for the purpose of making special studies 
pursuant to its duties 
and may 
appoint persons who 
are not 
members of the task force to serve on each committee as resource 
persons. 
Resource persons are voting members of the committees 
to which 
they are 
appointed. 
Committees 
may 
meet with the 
frequency needed to accomplish the purposes of this resolve; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall: 
1. 
Obtain 
statistical 
and 
qualitative 
data 
prevalence and incidence of cervical cancer in Maine; 
on 
the 
2. 
Raise public awareness of the causes 
and nature of 
cervical cancer, 
personal risk factors, 
value of prevention, 
early detection, 
options 
for 
testing, 
treatment 
costs, 
new 
technology and medical care reimbursement; 
3. 
Identify preventive 
including 
newly 
introduced 
preventing and controlling the 
strategies and 
new technologies, 
vaccines 
that 
are 
effective 
in 
risk of cervical cancer; 
4. 
Identify and examine the limitations of existing 
regulations, 
programs 
and 
services 
regarding 
coverage 
awareness of cervical cancer; 
laws, 
and 
5. 
Develop, in consultation with the Department of Health 
and Human Services, 
a 
statewide comprehensive cervical cancer 
prevention plan and strategies for plan implementation and for 
promoting the plan to the general public, state and local elected 
officials 
and 
various 
public 
and 
private 
organizations, 
associations, businesses, industries and agencies; 
6. 
Facilitate coordination and communication 
and local agencies and organizations regarding their 
in achieving the aims of the task force plan; and 
among state 
involvement 
7. 
Consider reports and testimony from individuals, local 
health 
departments, 
community-based 
organizations, 
voluntary 
health organizations and other public and private organizations 
statewide to learn more about their contributions to cervical 
cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment and their ideas for 
improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Maine; and be it 
further 
Sec. 8. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Legislative Council 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and 
be it further 
Sec. 9. Compensation. 
Resolved: 
That 
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. 10. Report. Resolved: 
That, no later than April 1, 2006, 
the task force shall submit an initial report that includes its 
findings 
and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for 
presentation 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Health and Human Services and the Governor. 
The task force is 
not authorized to introduce legislation. 
Following receipt and 
review of a final report by January 15, 2007, the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters may report out a bill to the First Regular 
Session of the 123rd Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 11. Task force budget. Resolved: 
That the chair of the 
task force, with assistance from the task force staff, shall 
administer the task force I 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 I s 
exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the 
task force, 
the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the task force chair 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 resolve establishes the Task Force to Study Cervical 
Cancer Prevention, Detection and Education. 
The purpose of the 
task force is to raise public awareness of the causes and nature 
of cervical cancer, personal risk factors, value of prevention, 
early 
detection, 
options 
for 
testing, 
treatment 
costs, 
new 
technology and medical care reimbursement. 
The task force is 
also 
charged with 
several 
other duties, 
including, 
but 
not 
limited 
to, 
identifying 
preventive 
strategies 
and 
new 
technologies, 
including 
newly 
introduced 
vaccines 
that 
are 
effective in preventing and controlling the risk of cervical 
cancer. 
The members of the task force are appointed by the 
Governor, 
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House. 
The task force shall submit its final report to the 
Governor 
and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by 
January 15, 2007.