An Act To Require Elevators To Be Accessible for Ambulance Stretchers
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0700
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: TUTTLE
Amends: 32 MRSA §15228

Legislative Document 
No. 700 
S.P. 249 
In Senate, February 26, 2013 
An Act To Require Elevators To Be Accessible for Ambulance 
Stretchers 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator TUTTLE of York. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §15228, sub-§1-A is enacted to read: 
1-A.  Existing construction; requirements.  Notwithstanding section 15206, a 
building described in subsection 2 must have at least one passenger elevator that is 
accessible from all levels within the building and that is of sufficient size to allow the 
transport of a person on an ambulance stretcher in the fully supine position, without 
having to raise, lower or bend the stretcher in any way.  This subsection applies to all 
passenger elevators inspected and certified pursuant to section 15221 on or after January 
1, 2018.  The board shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety; report.  The Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety shall 
establish a plan for the inspection and certification of all passenger elevators required to 
meet the elevator size requirements described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, 
section 15228, subsection 1-A and identify any legislative or regulatory changes that may 
be necessary.  On or before February 1, 2014, the Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety 
shall submit a report, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development.  The Joint 
Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development may 
submit a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that, beginning January 1, 2018, all existing multistory buildings 
that house private entities or nonprofit organizations that serve the public or are places of 
public accommodation, subject to specific exceptions, have at least one passenger 
elevator that is accessible from all levels within the building and that is of sufficient size 
to allow the transport of a person on an ambulance stretcher in the fully supine position, 
without having to raise, lower or bend the stretcher in any way.  The bill also requires the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Elevator and Tramway 
Safety to establish a plan for the inspection and certification of all passenger elevators in 
existing buildings required to meet the elevator size requirements and identify any 
legislative or regulatory changes that may be necessary and report to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development.  It also allows 
the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic 
Development to submit a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 
126th Legislature.