Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Incidence of and Mortality Related to Cancer
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1574
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: McCABE

Legislative Document 
No. 1574 
H.P. 1143 
House of Representatives, June 27, 2013 
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Incidence of and 
Mortality Related to Cancer 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative McCABE of Skowhegan. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to allow this commission sufficient time to conduct its work; 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 Commission To Study 
the Incidence of and Mortality Related to Cancer, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
no more than 11 members as follows: 
1.  The President of the Senate shall appoint: 
A.  Two members of the Senate, including a member from each of the 2 parties 
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature.  The President of the Senate 
shall give preference in making one of the appointments to a member who serves on 
the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and 
B.  One person representing a statewide public health organization; 
2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint: 
A.  Three members of the House of Representatives, including members from each of 
the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature.  The Speaker of 
the House shall give  preference in making one of the appointments to a member who 
serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and 
B.  One person representing a statewide organization of medical professionals, one 
person representing a statewide voluntary nonprofit health organization that 
represents cancer patients, one person who possesses expertise in cancer research or 
epidemiology and one person who possesses expertise in the subject matter of the 
study; and 
3.  The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the 
Department of Health and Human Services or the director'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 10 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 made.  The chairs of the commission shall call 
and convene the first meeting of the commission within 15 days of the effective date of 
this resolve.  If a majority of but not all appointments have been made within 10 days of 
the effective date of this resolve, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative 
Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be 
it further 
Sec. 5.  Meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission is authorized to meet up to 4 
times to accomplish its duties; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall review the State's above-
average rates of cancer incidence and mortality and the State's current cancer prevention, 
detection and treatment goals and priorities. 
The commission shall gather information and data from public and private entities as 
necessary to: 
1. Identify or review the State's current priorities and goals to reduce the incidence of 
and mortality from cancer; 
2. Identify the types of cancer with the highest incidence and mortality in the State, 
including the types of cancer whose incidence and mortality rates differ the most from 
national averages; 
3. Identify the risk factors, including preventable lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco 
use, diet, exercise and obesity, related to high relative rates of the incidence of and 
mortality from cancer; 
4. Identify the extent to which barriers to health care in the State contribute to cancer 
mortality; 
5. Make recommendations for legislative strategies to reduce the State's cancer 
incidence and mortality; and 
6. Make recommendations for how current state programs could further assist citizens 
through education and cancer prevention programs; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Cooperation.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services and the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within 
the Department of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Administrative and 
Financial Services and the Commissioner of Education, and any other relevant 
department, shall provide information and data to the commission as necessary for its 
work, within existing resources; and be it further 
Sec. 8.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council may provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 9.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 4, 2013, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in the Second 
Regular Session of the 126th Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 10.  Outside funding.  Resolved:  That the commission shall seek funding 
contributions to fund 50% of the costs of the study.  All funding is subject to approval by 
the Legislative Council in accordance with its policies.  If sufficient contributions to fund 
50% of the study have not been received within 30 days after the effective date of this 
resolve, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or 
reimbursed. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve creates the Commission To Study the Incidence of and Mortality Related 
to Cancer.  This resolve incorporates the provisions of Legislative Document 1032 of the 
126th Legislature but with the following changes. It: 
1.  Reduces the number of Legislators on the commission to 5; 
2.  Provides that the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 
or the director's designee serves on the committee and is not appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
3.  Reduces the number of authorized meetings to 4; 
4. Provides that 50% of the funding for the committee comes from outside sources; 
and 
5.  Adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
Approved: 06/27/13
LD 1574
LR 2194(01)
Legislative Cost/Study
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Incidence of and Mortality Related to Cancer
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. McCabe of Skowhegan
Additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources.
Committee: Not Referred
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Minor cost increase - General Fund
The general operating expenses of this study commission are projected to be $3,000 in fiscal year 2013-14.  The 
Legislative Council has approved funding for half of the estimated cost of this study commission within its budget for 
legislative studies.  The other half is required to be offset by outside funding provided to the Legislature for this 
purpose.  The additional costs associated with providing staffing assistance to the study commission can be absorbed 
by the Legislature utilizing existing budgeted resources.
LR2194(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1