Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Establish a Blue Ribbon Task Force To Examine the Attorney General's Report Regarding Police Shootings as It Relates to Deaths of Persons with Mental Illness
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1342
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: LEWIN, NUTTING, AUSTIN, AYOTTE, BEAUDOIN, CHASE, CRAFTS, CURTIS, CUSHING, DAVIS, EVES, FOSSEL, GIFFORD, GILES, JOHNSON, JOY, KNAPP, LANGLEY, MILLER, MILLETT, PERCY, PETERSON, PILON, PINGREE, PLUMMER, PRESCOTT, RICHARDSON, ROSEN, SANBORN, SAVIELLO, SCHATZ, STUCKEY, TARDY, THOMAS, TREAT, WEAVER, COURTNEY, GOOLEY, MILLS, PLOWMAN, SMITH

FIRST REGULAR SESSIOr~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 1342 
H.P.943 
House of Representatives, March 31, 2009 
Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Health and Human Services 
To Establish a Blue Ribbon Task Force To Examine the Attorney 
General's Report Regarding Police Shootings as It Relates to Deaths 
of Persons with Mental Illness 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative LEWIN of Eliot. 
Cosponsored by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, AYOTTE of Caswell, BEAUDOIN of Biddeford, CHASE 
of Wells, CRAFTS of Lisbon, CURTIS of Madison, CUSHING of Hampden, DAVIS of 
Sangerville, EVES of North Berwick, FOSSEL of Alna, GIFFORD of Lincoln, GILES of 
Belfast, JOHNSON of Greenville, JOY of Crystal, KNAPP of Gorham, LANGLEY of 
Ellsworth, McFADDEN of Dennysville, McKANE of Newcastle, MILLER of Somerville, 
MILLETT of Waterford, PERCY of Phippsburg, PETERSON of Rumford, PILON of Sa co, 
Speaker PINGREE of North Haven, PLUMMER of Windham, PRESCOTT of Topsham, 
RICHARDSON of Warren, ROSEN of Bucksport, SANBORN of Gorham, SARTYof 
Denmark, SAVIELLO of Wilton, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, STUCKEY of Portland, TARDY of 
Newport, THOMAS of Ripley, TREAT of Hallowell, WEAVER of York, Senators: 
COURTNEY of York, GOOLEY of Franklin, MILLS of Somerset, PLOWMAN of Penobscot, 
~~_/ 
RA YE of Washington, ROSEN of Hancock, SMITH of Piscataquis. 
Printed on recycled pilper 
Sec. 1. 
Blue ribbon task force established. 
Resolved: 
That the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall establish a blue ribbon task force to 
examine the 2008 Report of the Attorney General's Ad Hoc Task Force on the Use of 
Deadly Force by Law Enforcement Officers Against Individuals Suffering From Mental 
Illness and to establish recommendations and preferred protocols for nonlethal responses 
to situations in which the medical and mental health status of a person is unknown by law 
enforcement officers. The blue ribbon task force must include members who represent 
public safety, mental health care and judicial services, as well as members of the public; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That the blue ribbon task force shall: 
1. Review the Attorney General's report and ascertain the issues raised and what 
recommendations were made concerning police shootings in confrontations and how the 
shootings relate to the deaths of people with mental illness. The ad hoc task force 
identified several areas that, if addressed, could decrease the incidence of situations 
requiring police to intervene under highly dangerous circumstances. The blue ribbon task 
force shall review these areas and determine if any further suggested legislation is 
advisable; 
2. Review the findings of the Mental Health Homicide, Suicide and Aggravated 
Assault Review Board, established by Public Law 2007, chapter 609, and the report that 
was due to be submitted by January 30, 2009 for the conclusions and recommendations 
that the board provided; 
3. Review the process and interaction of the major groups affected by this issue, 
including the judiciary, public safety and mental health fields, to better improve 
communication and goals between the groups and to achieve the appropriate response to 
situations that involve people with mental illness; 
4. Review the relationship between law enforcement and people with mental illness 
in other states, especially in states with similar geographical, cultural and economic 
backgrounds. The blue ribbon task force shall review the role of substance abuse in 
situations in which the police are involved and determine best ways to address that issue 
as it relates to people with mental illness; 
5. Review data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which rates Maine in 
its 2nd-highest tier of grading. Maine is one of only 6 states to receive this ranking. The 
blue ribbon task force shall report its recommendations for making the State one of the 
best in dealing appropriately with public safety situations that involve law enforcement 
and people with mental illness; and 
6. 
Consider and make a recommendation about having a specially trained State 
Police tactical team respond to a dangerous situation involving a person with a mental 
illness; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Report. Resolved: 
That the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services shall submit a report that includes the fmdings and recommendations of the blue 
Page I - 124LR1274(Ol)-1 
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ribbon task force, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular 
Session of the 124th Legislature by March 1, 2010. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is authorized to 
introduce legislation related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 124th Legislature upon receipt of the report. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to establish a 
blue ribbon task force to examine the Attorney General's recent report on the issue of 
police shootings in confrontations with people with mental illness and to recommend 
protocols to avoid lethal confrontations. The blue ribbon task force is also directed to 
review the findings of the recent report of the Mental Health Homicide, Suicide and 
Aggravated Assault Review Board and ways that the public safety, judicial system and 
mental health fields interrelate in order to improve communication. The task force will 
look at other states' procedures and protocols and review information from the National 
Alliance on Mental Illness. Finally, the task force shall make a recommendation about 
having a specially trained State Police tactical team respond to a dangerous situation 
involving a person with a mental illness. The commissioner will report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety by March 1, 2010 with 
recommendations and suggested legislation of the blue ribbon task force. The joint 
standing committee is authorized to submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of 
the 1 24th Legislature.