An Act To Support Municipal Volunteers
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0500
Committee Amendment CA_A_H376 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,Ii" to H.P. 339, L.D. 500, Bill, "An Act To 
Support Municipal Volunteers" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Develop Solutions To Meet the Needs for 
Municipal Volunteer Personnel' 
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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Municipal Volunteer Working Group established in this resolve will 
make important recommendations regarding ways to recruit, train and retain essential 
volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report produced 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. Municipal Volunteer Working Group established. Resolved: That 
the Municipal Volunteer Working Group, referred to in this resolve as "the working 
group," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: 
That the working group 
consists of 9 members appointed as follows: 
.COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "It" to H.P. 339, L.D. 500 
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, one from 
the party with the greatest number of members and one from the party with the 2nd 
greatest number of members; 
2. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, at least one of whom is from the party with the greatest number of members and 
at least one of whom is from the party with the 2nd greatest number of members; 
3. One representative from the Maine State Federation of Firefighters, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
4. One volunteer firefighter or emergency responder who may be active or nonactive, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5. One chief of a volunteer fire department, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
and 
6. One representative from the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 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 
working group; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of working group. Resolved: That all 
appointments must be made no ,later than 30 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 completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the working group. If 30 days or 
more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have 
been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant 
authority for the working group to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall find solutions to the 
recruitment, training and retention problems facing volunteer fire departments and 
volunteer emergency medical services providers in Maine. 
The working group shall solicit input from municipalities with volunteer fire 
departments and volunteer emergency medical services, volunteer firefighters and 
volunteer emergency medical services providers and members of the public. 
The 
working group shall identify the reasons for recruitment, training and retention problems 
and recommend solutions; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2, 2015, the working 
group shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public 
Safety. The committee may submit Legislation related to the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 127th Legislature. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 339, L.D. 500 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited III the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the bill and replaces it with a resolve that establishes the 
Municipal Volunteer Working Group to find solutions to the recruitment, training and 
retention problems facing volunteer fire departments and volunteer emergency medical 
services providers in the State. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/24115 
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LD500 
LR 46(02) 
An Act To Support Municipal Volunteers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment I~I {II '{37tp \ 
Committee: Taxation 
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Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Costs/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $2,250 in fiscal year 2015-16. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 for legislative studies. Whether this amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. Thr 
additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing 
budgeted staff resources. If more than 4 meetings are he Id during the interim the estimated cost for each additional 
meeting is projected to be $500 per meeting for legislative per diem and expenses. 
LR0046(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I