Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Methods of Protecting Emergency Medical Services Personnel during the Transportation of Persons with Mental Illness
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1067
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TUTTLE

,FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2009 
'Legislative Document 
No. 1067 
'H.P.734 
House ofR'epresentatives, March 17,2009 
Resolve, To Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Methods 
of Protecting Emergency Medical Services Personnel during the 
Transportation of Persons with Mental Illness 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed: 
Presented by Representative TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Printeu 011 rccych:d pilpl!r 
'!r/~ /J1.1J7tU~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
'!: 
Emergency preamble. "lhereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days <.i_'ter adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Blue Ribbon Commission To 
St~dy Methods of Protecting 
Emergency Medical Services Personnel during the Transportation of Persons with Mental 
Illness is created in this resolve and must issue its [mdings and report by December 2, 
2009; 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. 
Commission established. 
Resolved: 
That the Blue Ribbon 
Commission To Study Methods of Protecting Emergency Medical Services Personnel 
during the Transportation of Persons with Mental Illness, referred to iq this resolve as 
"the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolv_ed: That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1. Five members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows: 
A. Two Senators; and 
B. One member who works as an emergency medical services person, one person 
representing the interests of the court system and one member representing the 
interests of law enforcement personnel; 
2. Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows: 
A. Five members of the House; and 
B. One member representing the interests of ambulance services and one member 
representing mental health workers; and 
3. 
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the cOlmnissioncr's 
designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the fIrst-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair 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 tIns 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment 
Page I - 124LR0074(OI)-1 
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of all members, the ch3irs shall call and convene the first meeting of the conm1ission, 
which may be no later than August 1, 2009; and be it fUliher 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall conduct a study and make 
reconm1endations on the issue of emergency medical services personnel and the 
transportation of people with mental illnesses and specifically address the best way to 
protect emergency medical services workers with established protocols for the occasions 
when attacks and threats occur to the persOlmel and when to use law enforcement 
intervention and arrest as opposed to using commitment to mental health facilities; and be 
it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2,2009, the commission 
shall submit a report that indudes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. The 
Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is authorized to 
introduce a bill related to the subj ect matter of the report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 124th Legislature upon receipt of the report. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this . 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes a blue ribbon commission to conduct a study and make 
recommendations on the issue of emergency medical services personnel and the 
transportation of people with mental illnesses and specificalfy address the best way to 
protect emergency medical services workers with established protocols for the occasions 
when attacks and threats occur to the personnel and. when to use law enforcement 
intervention and arrest as opposed to using commitment to mental health facilities. The 
blue ribbon commission shall make a report and recommendations to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which is authorized to introduce a bill 
on this matter.