An Act To Provide Ballistic Vests to State Law Enforcement Officers
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1536
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BURNS, EVES, BAKER, CYRWAY, ROSEN, WHITTEMORE, FOWLE, HICKMAN, LUCHINI

Legislative Document 
No. 1536 
S.P. 598 
In Senate, January 6, 2016 
An Act To Provide Ballistic Vests to State Law Enforcement 
Officers 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BURNS of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Speaker EVES of North Berwick and 
Senators: BAKER of Sagadahoc, CYRWAY of Kennebec, ROSEN of Hancock, 
WHITTEMORE of Somerset, Representatives: FOWLE of Vassalboro, HICKMAN of 
Winthrop, LUCHINI of Ellsworth. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA c. 411 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 411 
BALLISTIC VESTS 
§3851.  Provision of ballistic vests for law enforcement 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Ballistic vest" means a form of personal armor worn on the torso that prevents or 
restricts penetration by a projectile discharged by a firearm as defined in Title 17-A, 
section 2, subsection 12-A. 
B.  "Law enforcement officer" means a person who by virtue of public employment is 
vested by law with the power to make arrests for crimes or serve criminal process, 
whether that power extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes, and who 
possesses a current and valid certificate issued by the Board of Trustees of the Maine 
Criminal Justice Academy pursuant to section 2803-A and includes, without 
limitation, an active: 
(1)  State police officer; 
(2)  Game warden or other law enforcement officer employed by the Department 
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or any bureau or division of the department; 
(3)  Employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal who has law enforcement 
powers pursuant to section 2396, subsection 7; 
(4)  Judicial marshal; 
(5)  Law enforcement officer in the Department of Marine Resources, including a 
marine patrol officer appointed by the Commissioner of Marine Resources; 
(6)  Forest ranger employed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry, Bureau of Forestry or any bureau or division of the department; 
(7)  State humane agent employed by the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry; 
(8)  State criminal inspector or detective employed by the Office of the Attorney 
General pursuant to Title 5, sections 197 and 202, respectively; 
(9)  Person employed by the Department of Corrections as an investigative 
officer as defined in Title 34-A, section 1001, subsection 10-A; 
(10)  Juvenile community corrections officer as described in Title 34-A, section 
5602; 
(11)  Probation officer; 
(12)  Police officer appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety pursuant to 
section 2908; 
(13)  Military security police officer appointed by the Adjutant General; 
(14)  Police officer in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Capitol Police; 
and 
(15)  Motor vehicle investigator appointed by the Secretary of State pursuant to 
Title 29-A, section 152. 
"Law enforcement officer" does not include a federal law enforcement officer or 
federal attorney prosecuting for the State. 
2.  Provision of ballistic vests for law enforcement officers.  A political subdivision 
of State Government employing a law enforcement officer shall provide the law 
enforcement officer with a well-fitting, contemporary ballistic vest. 
3.  Provision of ballistic vests for dogs engaged in law enforcement.  If a political 
subdivision of State Government uses a dog for the purpose of aiding in law enforcement, 
that political subdivision shall provide the dog with a well-fitting, contemporary ballistic 
vest. 
4.  Funding.  The State may accept public and private funds to implement the 
purposes of this chapter. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that all active law enforcement officers employed by the State, 
including game wardens, forest rangers, marine patrol officers and investigative officers 
and detectives in the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of the Secretary of 
State and the Department of Corrections, be equipped with well-fitting, contemporary 
ballistic vests.  This bill also requires such vests to be provided for dogs used in law 
enforcement by the State.  The cost of each vest must be paid by the political subdivision 
of the State employing the law enforcement officer or using the dog.  The State is 
permitted to accept private or public funds to offset the cost of the vests.