Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine's Veterans
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0721
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: GOLDEN, COLLINS, DEVIN, ESPLING, EVES, GIDEON, HANINGTON, KINNEY, LONGSTAFF, LUCHINI, MONAGHAN, SCHNECK, TURNER, CUSHING, CYRWAY, MASON, PATRICK

Legislative Document 
No. 721 
H.P. 497 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2015 
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Strengthen and Align the 
Services Provided to Maine's Veterans 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative GOLDEN of Lewiston. 
Cosponsored by Senator COLLINS of York and 
Representatives: DEVIN of Newcastle, ESPLING of New Gloucester, Speaker EVES of North 
Berwick, GIDEON of Freeport, HANINGTON of Lincoln, KINNEY of Limington, 
LONGSTAFF of Waterville, LUCHINI of Ellsworth, MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, 
SCHNECK of Bangor, TURNER of Burlington, Senators: CUSHING of Penobscot, 
CYRWAY of Kennebec, MASON of Androscoggin, PATRICK of Oxford. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, a legislative study by a study commission needs sufficient time for the 
commission to properly do its work; and 
Whereas, there is insufficient time after the 90-day period for a study commission 
to properly do its work before reporting to the Legislature; 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 To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to 
Maine’s Veterans established. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine’s Veterans, 
referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership. Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  One member of the Senate who sits on the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans 
and Legal Affairs, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  One member of the House of Representatives who sits on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives; 
3.  The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the 
commissioner's designee; 
4.  Five members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows: 
A.  Three members, representing 3 different veterans' service organizations in the 
State; and 
B.  Two members with expertise in veterans' affairs policy or representing a nonprofit 
organization providing services to veterans that is not a veterans’ service 
organization; and 
5.  Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as 
follows: 
A.  Three members, representing 3 different veterans' service organizations in the 
State; and 
B.  Two members with expertise in veterans' affairs policy matters or representing a 
nonprofit organization providing services to veterans that is not a veterans' service 
organization. 
Of the members appointed, at least one member must be serving or have served in the 
Maine Army National Guard, at least one member must be under 30 years of age, at least 
one member must be between 30 and 40 years of age, at least one member must be 
between 41 and 64 years of age, at least one member must be over 65 years of age, at 
least 2 members must be women and at least one member must be a combat-wounded 
veteran and amputee; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Cooperation. Resolved:  That the Information Resource of Maine shall 
provide information and assistance to the commission as requested by the commission for 
the performance of its duties; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Chairs. Resolved:  That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Appointments; convening of commission. 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. The first meeting date must be set 
within 15 days after and be held within 30 days after all appointments have been made; 
and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Duties. Resolved:  That the commission shall: 
1.  Review the services provided by the State to veterans for gaps, duplications and 
inefficiencies; 
2.  Study improving the State’s engagement and communication with veterans of the 
conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq; 
3.  Study how the State can provide health care and mental health services to the 
State's veterans when there is a clear gap in federal services; 
4.  Study how to better align community, state and federal services and resources for 
homeless veterans; 
5.  Study how the State can develop and implement a campaign and marketing 
strategy to communicate with veterans and military retirees and encourage them to attend 
state colleges and to live and work in the State; 
6.  Make recommendations to the Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management concerning practices and rules regarding services and programs 
for veterans and the development of a 5-year work plan; and 
7.  Make recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal 
Affairs concerning changes to services and programs for veterans; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Staff assistance. Resolved:  That the Department of Defense, Veterans 
and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services and the Office of 
Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 8.  Report. Resolved:  That, no later than December 2, 2015, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.  The Joint 
Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs may report out legislation to the 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services 
Provided to Maine's Veterans, which must report by December 2, 2015 with its findings 
and recommendations and suggested legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs.